Last night, the Jr. B Rockyview Silvertips held off a late-game surge by the Manitoba Blizzard to win the first of a two-game homestand.

The Tips were down by one going into the third but scored twice early in the period to take the lead, then hold on for a 17-16 win. A Tips' goal at the 12:37 mark started a three-goal scoring spree that gave them a 17-14 lead heading into the final seven minutes of play. The Blizzard was relentless, though, coming within one by the time the buzzer sounded.

Griffen Hall goes in to score the eventual game-winner.

Strong third period outings have been key in many of the Tips victories this season.

“Our team has been super resilient all year,” says head coach Derrick Henry. “Today the offensive really pulled through with 17 goals. Our d-side struggled a little bit but the offence really pulled through. It was a good team win. There’s going to be games where maybe the offence is struggling and the defence is keeping balls out of the net.”

Matthew Dyck had five goals on the night, Hunter McChesney four, Nolan Oakey had a hattrick and Griffen Hall scored two, including the eventual game-winner.  Logan Ellis, Jordon Waddell and Josh Halcro rounded out the scoring.

The red hot Silvertips are now 5-1 and will strive to make that 6-1 when the Red Deer Rampage are in town Sunday night.

The Rampage may be off to a slow start but Henry says the Tips won’t take them lightly, nor any team.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, it’s who’s the better team that day. We just have to come out and play our game.”

Both the Tips and Rampage are in the highly-competitive central division and that makes a win Sunday even more important.

“Our division is super tight so that’s why wins against Red Deer, Olds and the Chill are big. If we can get them it will help us in the standings.”

A quarter of the way through the season, it’s a three-way race for first in the central division.

Sundays game time is 7 p.m. in Totem One of the SLS Family Sports Centre.

The Jr. B tier 2 Rage are home tonight (May 25) against the West Kootenay Timberwolves. Game time is 7 p.m.