Team BC came out firing in their first game of the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta., but lost their momentum in the middle frame and eventually the game to Manitoba 4-2.
Outshooting their opponent 16-8 in the first period at Centrium, Team BC defenceman Graham Sward (Fraser Valley Thunderbirds/Abbotsford) gave his squad a 1-0 lead.
The teams traded goals in the second period with Manitoba tying it up, but then Caedan Bankier (Burnaby Winter Club Academy/Surrey) tipped a point shot past the Manitoba netminder. With less than a minute to play in the period Manitoba fired back as the teams skated to a 2-2 draw.
"After the first period shifts got shorter and you could see the emotion playing out on the guys. In sports your nervousness usually ends up in your legs and you stand up a little straighter, your shifts aren't as sharp and they are battling fatigue and emotion," said Team BC head coach Steve O'Rourke. "Playing on TSN and in front of all their parents all played a part in those nerves. The way we came out was to our advantage, we outshot Manitoba but then that emotion kicked back on us and that is when Manitoba really started coming on."
Manitoba took control of the game adding a goal early in the third period and an empty-net marker late in the game with Team BC going for the tying goal with the extra attacker.
Team BC will face Saskatchewan on Sunday, Feb. 17 at 12:30 p.m. (Mountain Time). Saskatchewan played the late game on Saturday, defeating the host Alberta team 4-3.
"They are a hard-working team and, like everyone here, these are their best players in their province. The prairie teams always play hard and are physical teams," said O'Rourke about their next opponent Saskatchewan. "From puck drop were are going to have to be physical from lines one to four and defence man two to six. We will need a physical presence but also add in our structure and compete from the drop of the puck to the end of the game."