The 18U AAA Titans Hockey Union struck first but couldn't sustain the momentum, falling 3-1 to a resilient Kootenay HA squad on home ice. The Titans' early lead came just under six minutes into the opening period, as Max MacPherson, wearing #26, found the back of the net with helpers from Rylan Scarfe (#7) and Rhys McLean (#22). The period was a chippy affair, featuring four minor penalties, but Kootenay's goaltender Kingston Cuell (#1) stood firm after the early goal, turning away all five second-period shots to keep his team within striking distance.
Kootenay's comeback was a testament to patience and capitalizing on opportunities. They finally solved Titans netminder Bennett Neilson (#30) late in the second period. With just over two minutes remaining, Blaine Nelson (#25) buried an even-strength marker, assisted by Ollie D’Amour (#3) and Larson Proctor (#26), knotting the game at 1-1 and shifting all the momentum to the home side. The third period belonged entirely to Kootenay, who unleashed a 14-shot barrage. The game-winner came off the stick of Preston Oler (#42) midway through the frame, a crucial even-strength goal that put Kootenay ahead for good.
The Titans, pressured into mistakes, took three penalties in a frantic five-minute span of the third period as they tried to mount an equalizer. Their efforts were stifled by a disciplined Kootenay penalty kill and the steady presence of Cuell in net. The final nail was hammered home by Wyatt Borys (#29), who sealed the 3-1 victory with an empty-net goal in the final two minutes. While official save totals weren't tracked, the shot totals tell the story: Kootenay's Cuell was a wall after the first goal, backstopping his team to a win built on a strong defensive foundation and timely scoring.
14U AAA - HC Edmonton
14U AAA - Surrey Eagles HA
15U AAA - Bow Valley HC
15U AAA - Langley HA
