Just when things looked grim for the Estevan Big Dogs, Tanner Froese stepped up to vault them into their first victory of the season.
Froese scored the game-winner from a lengthy distance as the Big Dogs defeated the Moose Jaw Mustangs 10-9 on Sunday.
The victory moves the Big Dogs to 1-8 on the season. They had lost 15-11 to the Saskatoon Steelers the previous day.
Estevan had led for nearly the entire game before blowing a three-goal lead in 67 seconds with less than four minutes to play.
With teammates crowding the Moose Jaw net, Froese seemed to catch the Mustangs off-guard from the back of the attacking zone.
"I figured I may as well just take it, with the time left, and see what happens," he said of his second goal of the game.
"It was a huge shot," said head coach Evan Handley. "Tanner missed the first period, so I was glad to see him out there. He had two really big goals and he's really been picking up his play lately."
Handley credited his young team for staying even-keeled after giving up the lead so late in the game.
"The boys showed a lot of courage. We worked really hard to keep it, and then when we lost it they did a really good job of battling through it and not losing their composure when it was 9-9. Lots of teams would fall apart there."
It was a chippy third period, with Rhett Handley and Wayde Curzon both being tossed for fighting, which hurt the team's ability to hold the lead.
"That never helps. We need those players on the floor because those are our players that put the ball in the net," said Handley.
Estevan jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first five minutes Sunday, courtesy of Michael Bittman and Handley, before allowing three quick ones.
Mark Moriarty scooped up a loose ball along the boards and exploded toward the net to tie it late in the first.
Estevan outscored Moose Jaw 4-1 in the second period, getting two goals from Dylan Smith and singles from Froese and Ryan Frehlick to take a 7-4 lead to the dressing room.
Frehlick had been called up from the midget Devils.
Smith completed a hat trick early in the third period and Ryan Curzon tallied later in the frame.
Kyle Dalgarno and Chris Sauder paced the Mustangs with three goals apiece. Taylor Dobrescu, Dylan Mauro and Cody Dunlop chipped in with singles.
Aside from Froese, Handley said he felt Smith, Ryan Curzon, Lucas Smyth and goaltender Tomas Davis, in particular, stood out for the Dogs.
Handley said the score on Saturday against Saskatoon didn't reflect how close the game was.
Trailing 11-5 after two, the Big Dogs made an impressive comeback attempt, racking up six goals in the third to Moose Jaw's four.
Handley and Smith netted four goals apiece. Froese added two and Ryan Curzon also scored.
Ryan Potie starred for the Steelers, pumping in six goals on the day.
Austin Thorarinson and Steven Toporowski had three each, Brayden Farquar added two and Tristan Hoath scored one.
The Big Dogs are in Regina tonight to take on the Rifles.
