By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Pirates marooned in game one versus strong Red Deer Rustlers

Jan 26, 2019 | 3:33 PM

The North Central Hockey League’s two newest teams dropped the puck on the playoffs Saturday afternoon in front of a large crowd at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

In the end, the Red Deer Rustlers skated away with a 3-1 win in game one of the best of five series which pits the 2nd seed against the 7th seed Sylvan Lake Pirates.

Andrew McArthur, Dustin Moore and Ty Berkholtz had the goals for Red Deer who went 12-4-0-0 in their first season. Cody Lemon scored the lone goal for the 3-10-0-3 Pirates.

“It was a lot of intensity. We did really well and Red Deer is a really great team. The boys plugged away and did the best they could,” said Pirates head coach Scott Barnes post-game.

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“We have to get some more bodies out. We only had 12 out there, and tomorrow we’ll have four more. It was 1-1 halfway through, but we didn’t have any gas left.”

Scott Odegard, head coach of the Rustlers, noted that the teams were not used to playing on Olympic-sized ice which is in place ahead of the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

“This rink’s a little big for our style of game,” he quipped. “But it’s playoff hockey, and most of these guys have played playoff hockey, and two teams out of this get to go to provincials.”

On what fans can expect from game two which goes at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Collicutt, Odegard made a blunt prediction.

“I’m going to be really honest with you. When we get to a smaller rink, I think we’re probably going to give it to them a little harder. We’re not a big rink team. We’ve got a lot of older guys, and an older team than they do.”

After 60 minutes, Red Deer had fired more than 50 shots at the Pirates’ goaltender, while Sylvan barely cracked 20.

Tickets for game two on Sunday are free for season ticket holders. Games three and four (if necessary) are scheduled for Feb. 2 and 3 at the NexSource Centre. Game five (if necessary) is set for Feb. 9 at the Penhold Multiplex.

Other first round series in the NCHL playoffs feature Eckville vs. Devon, Westlock vs. Morinville, and Daysland vs. Whitecourt.