The Cranbrook Bucks are going the distance.
Jaden Fodchuk scored the overtime winner in a thrilling end to Game 6, streaking out of the penalty box to score on a breakaway, as the Cranbrook Bucks defeated the West Kelowna Warriors 4-3.
The Bucks bench emptied as Fodchuk was mobbed in the arena corner in front of a deafening crowd at Western Financial Place on Sunday afternoo0n in Cranbrook.
Both teams traded leads through regulation, scoring once in each frame, as the Warriors managed to tie up the game with a powerplay goal near the midway point of the third period.
Noah Urness opened the scoring for the Bucks, jumping on a fat rebound off a shot from Jack Silich. The Herd appeared to have taken the lead on another goal from Urness, however, it was disallowed following review by the officials.
With 10 minutes left in the frame, Sean Keohane scored a shorthanded effort while clearing the Warriors zone, as the puck took a wild deflection off a stanchion and into the net.
Early in the second period, Trent Wilson put the Warriors ahead, finishing on a breakaway while streaking in all alone into Bucks territory.
Samuel Lyne got his first of the BCHL postseason, batting in a rebound in front of the Warriors goal, bringing the two teams at an even 2-2 after the game’s halfway point, setting up a wild third period.
Julian Frias put The Herd ahead in the frame period, while Felix Caron answered back on the powerplay a few minutes later.
With three minutes left in the game, things got tense. The Warriors looked like they took the lead after the puck was jammed in as Bucks netminder Carter Capton was bumped out of position, however, the goal was disallowed after video review.
As regulation solved nothing, it was off to the extra frame.
Fodchuk took an early penalty, serving time in the box as the Warriors powerplay went to work, however, The Herd was able to kill off the man-advantage.
Just after the penalty expired, Fodchok busted out of the box and collected the puck that snuck past a Warriors defenceman in the Cranbrook zone. Out-skating another Warriors defender, Fodchok went top-shelf to send the series off to a deciding Game 7.
Both goaltenders — Carter Capton for the Bucks and Matthew DellaRusso for the Warriors — made 35 saves each while backstopping their respective teams.
Both teams will face off for the final game of the series in West Kelowna on Tuesday (April 16) evening.