By John DeCoste
KingsCountyNews.ca
The Summit Hyundai Valley midget Wildcats finally got what they had been waiting for since the start of their NSMMHL semifinal series with the Cape Breton West Islanders - a win on the road.
Facing elimination in the best-of-seven series in game six Thursday evening in Port Hood, the Wildcats forced a seventh and deciding game Saturday evening in Berwick with a 4-1 victory.
Regular season scoring champion Nick Blanchard scored three goals for the Wildcats, who led 2-0 after one period and 3-0 after two.Valley claimed the win despite being outshot for the first time in the series, 38-25 - a redemption of sorts for Justin Ritcey who stopped 37 of the 38 shots he faced.
Brett Tidman opened the scoring for the 'Cats with a power play goal at 5:21 of the first period. Blanchard made it 2-0 with 3:09 remaining in the period, then scored the eventual game-winner 1:50 into the second period with the Wildcats playing shorthanded.
Garrett Lambke got Cape Breton West on the board with 5:33 left in the third period, but that was as close as the Islanders would get. Blanchard iced the victory - and completed his hat trick - with 34 seconds left on the clock.
Game seven is an 8 p.m. start Saturday evening at the Kings Mutual Century Centre in Berwick.
