From fifth place to playoff champions in the Boston Pizza Hockey League.
That’s how the 2016-17 season went for the RE Postill & Sons Orphans, who won their fourth title in eight years by clipping the Mushaluk Financial Bulls 2-1 in overtime Monday night at Priest Valley Arena.
The Orphans took the best-of-three final series in straight games. Both teams finished with 14 victories in the regular season. The Bulls were sixth. The Orphans celebrated with a few parking-lot sodas before taking in the local Monday night ballet performance. No parade is planned.
Jason Silzer displayed all-planet goaltending and 50-year-old brawny forward Rob Bauml supplied both goals.
“Jason was just outstanding in net,” said Bauml, a former Lake Lenore Hawk senior second-team all-star in Saskatchewan. “He was completely our MVP. He was making great saves and then making a bigger second save. Even the Bulls were complementing him in the handshake. He’s the best clutch goalie I’ve ever played for.”
Bauml took a feed from Chris Bradford and buried a backhander for the game’s first goal with 10 minutes to play.
The Bulls equalized with two minutes remaining when a blind wrister from the right sidewall by former Maine Black Bear Jeff Mushaluk bounced off Bulls’ Taylor Jackson past Silzer.
The Bulls had a 2-on-1 broken up and Bauml headed up ice in the 3-on-3 overtime.
“I tried to make a pass and it went off a skate and all of a sudden, it was in the net. It was a gritty affair. Both teams played well.”
Former Viper Bryce Kakoske supplied 3+3, while linemate and ex-Viper captain Dave Robinson earned 2+2 as the Orphans bounced the Bulls 6-2 in the series opener Saturday night at Priest Valley Arena.
Jeremy Silzer added a single in support of his brother, Jason, who pocketed one assist. Kyle Clarke produced three helpers as the Orphans built up a 2-0 first-period lead.
Mike Diblee, Calvin Berger and Taylor Jackson answered for the Bulls. Each team took three minor penalties.
Earlier in the round-robin, the Orphans brushed back the Bulls 3-1 on goals by Kakoske, Ryan Kurbis and ex-Viper captain Kevin Kraus. Mushaluk replied for the Bulls.
The Bulls stuffed the regular-season champion Cidel Moving Oilers 5-2 to reach the final.
Meanwhile, Justin Horochuk scored with one second remaining as the Dekes of Hazzard outlasted OTR2 Blades 15-14 in the Boston Pizza Pond Hockey playoff final Friday night at the Okanagan Training Rink.
Horochuk finished with 8+3, while Carson Gray, who assisted on the winner, earned 3+4. Brandon Anderson pocketed a hat trick and Troy Connolly rang up 1+6 in support of Rodger Sewell.
Ex-Nanaimo Clipper Scott Kowalski compiled 4+2 for the Blades, while Donnie McNeil produced 3+2, Brett Heitman had 2+2 and Nathan Harrer provided 2+1 in front of Kaleb Harris.