By Stephen Moore and Jordan Bay

Team Alberta men’s hockey team upset on Day 1 of Winter Games

Feb 17, 2019 | 1:10 PM

It was the one that got away last night for Team Alberta, as its men’s hockey team dropped their first game of the Canada Winter Games 4-3 in overtime against Saskatchewan. 

Alberta dominated the game and outshot Saskatchewan by almost a 2-to-1 margin, but a lack of discipline and a hot goaltender, Brett Mirwald, was the recipe for the upset.

Saskatchewan scored all three of their goals in regulation on the powerplay and finished 3/7 as Alberta continued to give their impressive special teams units opportunities. Alberta was only 1/5 with the man advantage. 

The Westerner Park Centrium was alive for a physical, fast-paced game of hockey. Any thoughts that the Centrium would feel too big for this tournament have been squashed early. 

In the first, Alberta took the lead while on the powerplay when alternate captain Kai Uchacz took a cross-seam feed and made no mistake to put the hosts up in the opening frame. 

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Saskatchewan had a quick answer however on the powerplay couresy of Karter Prosofsky to tie things at 1-1.

Alberta was leading 3-2 through 40 minutes, but Saskatchewan took advantage of another special teams goal from Logan Linklater to send the game into OT.

It was a tightly contested 3-on-3 overtime with chances at both ends. Saskatchewan killed off a huge 30-second penalty in the extra frame which gave them a boost of momentum. Prince Albert Raiders third overall draft pick Nolan Allan made a great move to slide the game-winner past sprawling Red Deer-native Drew Sim giving Saskatchewan the victory.

Team Saskatchewan sits tied for first in their pool with Manitoba at three points, while Alberta is tied for 3rd with zero points.

Alberta will look to rebound Sunday night when they play Team Manitoba at 4 p.m. at the Westerner Park Centrium.