Golden Hawks top the Oilers, twice

The Lethbridge bantam AAA Val Matteotti Golden Hawks picked up four points thanks to a pair of one-goal wins, the second of which dialed up some last-minute heroics.

Facing the Okotoks Oilers in a home-and-home series during Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League play Thursday and Sunday, the Golden Hawks edged the Oilers 3-2 Thursday night in Okotoks and then posted the same result in the back half of the series Sunday afteroon at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

With the two wins, Lethbridge improves to 21-9-4 to remain in third place in the AMBHL, two points behind the 21-7-6 Red Deer Rebels and six points behind the first-place Airdrie Xtreme (23-4-6).

On Sunday afternoon, Golden Hawk Nolan Price scored his second of the game with 1:06 left to snap a 2-2 tie and give Lethbridge the home-andhome sweep.

Bill Houenagnon added the other Lethbridge goal 2:49 into the third period as the teams skated to a 1-1 tie after 40 minutes. Teigen Parenteau had two assists in Sunday’s win and goaltender Erick Roest stopped 29 shots.

In Thursday’s win in Okotoks, the Golden Hawks took a 2-0 lead after the first period and went up 3-0 with 2:59 left in the game.

But the Oilers made for an interesting finish, scoring twice in the final 1:22 before the Golden Hawks held on for the win.

Colby Garner and Conner Furukawa scored 11 seconds apart in the first period before defenceman Carson Haynes scored with a little under three minutes to go.

Tyler Palmer made 23 saves in the win.

The Golden Hawks finish the regular season next weekend on the road, starting Saturday in Calgary against the Bisons.

Lethbridge heads to Medicine Hat Sunday to take on the Southeast Tigers.