Drumheller, AB: After a back and forth, tight-checking, hard-nosed opening series of the 2023 AJHL Playoffs with the Canmore Eagles, your Drumheller Dragons have advanced to the second round after a thrilling overtime game six goal by captain, Sam Simard.
After dropping the opening game of the series at home by a score of 4-3, the Dragons rallied back and won three straight games including a marathon game four that went into double overtime. Just 12 seconds into that second overtime period, Dragons rookie sensation, Coy Pighin was sprung on a breakaway and ended the game in dramatic fashion. Heading back home for game five, the community of Drumheller packed the Memorial Arena but watched as the Dragons lost a close game 3-2 as the Eagles forced a game six back in Canmore. After a game that had a ton of chances but only one goal a piece after regulation, it set the stage for a Dragon to play hero and advance the team to the second round. At the 9:40 mark of the first overtime period, Sam Simard found a lose puck in front of the net and put it in on Eagles goaltender Proctor-Ramirez, who was a thorn in the Dragons side all series. After dropping five of six games to the Eagles in the regular season, the Drumheller Dragons came together to defeat the Eagles 4-2 in this opening series and advance to the second round.
Notable standouts for the Dragons during their first round of playoffs include goaltender Garrett Fuller, forwards Ty Daneault, Wil Christian and Coy Pighin. Fuller has been a brick wall all series, making big saves and keeping the Dragons in back and forth, low scoring games. The Dragons netminder posted a .928 save percentage and a 1.87 goals against average in the first round. Ty Daneault has also kept his pace from the regular season, as he has six points in six games and Wil Christian has also stepped up for the Dragons with four goals and five points in six games.
The Dragons kick off their second round series on the road this Friday as they head to the Eagle Builders Centre in Blackfalds for games one and two with the Bulldogs. They will then return home for games three and four on Tuesday, March 28th and Wednesday, March 29th. During the regular season, the Dragons split the season series with the Bulldogs, as each team won three games a piece. In addition, each team both scored 21 goals, as their high-powered offensive play matches up well against each other.