An ending right out of a storybook.
The Hitmen wrapped up the 2021 WHL season with a 4-3 overtime win Tuesday night over the Red Deer Rebels in what was another entertaining clash.
For the fourth straight game between the two rivals, overtime was needed to find a winner as Adam Kydd scored at 4:21 of the extra session to propel the Hitmen to one more sweet victory.
It didn’t come easy with some late heroics for the Hitmen setting the stage for the win, as Josh Prokop scored the tying goal with just 46.5 seconds remaining in regulation. The goal came with the extra attacker on and how fitting it was that the captain was the one to pop it home. Sean Tschigerl and Riley Stotts also found the back of the net for the Hitmen while Stotts added a pair of assists to reach the 200 point plateau in the Western Hockey League. For Tschigerl, the marker extended his career-high point scoring streak to 12 games with 18 points (11G, 7A).
The Rebels were led by Ben King who notched a pair of goals while Mason Ward added a single in the loss.
Both goaltenders had a busy night with the two teams combining for 85 shots on goal, with the Hitmen recording 50 while Red Deer ended with 35. Brayden Peters picked up the win making 32 saves, while Chase Coward and Byron Fancy saw time for the Rebels, with Coward making 42 stops.
The Hitmen finish the shortened season with a record of 10-8-3-0, good for third in the Central Division while Red Deer ended with a 4-15-4-0 mark.
And so wraps up another season as there will be no WHL playoffs or Memorial Cup this season.
For the Hitmen, the group talked leading up to the clash on how they wanted to give their 20-year-olds the proper send off and end strong.
Mission accomplished.