A 5-4 final for the Kindersley Jr. Klippers last night on home ice ended their pre-season with a win. The Klippers beat the AJHL's Drumheller Dragons in the final tune-up before next week's SJHL opening weekend to finish the pre-season with a 4-1 record.
The Klippers gave up a powerplay goal early as Leathen Bent scored to put Drumheller up 1-0, but less than a minute later Rylan Wieler scored with the assist going to Brock Evans to knot things up. Seven minutes later Jaxon Herchak scored his first goal back in a Klippers uniform after WHL camp, but the opening frame ended 2-2 with Lauchlan Kozicky finding the back of the net for the Dragons.
After a 16-7 shot advantage for the Klippers in the first, a tamer second period saw the Klippers get outshot 10-8. They still managed to take the lead as about halfway through the middle frame Brock Evans scored for the Klippers to make it 3-2, Herchak and Avery Johnson getting assists to give Kindersley the lead through two periods of play.
That trio connected again three minutes into the second as it was Johnson's turn to score, assists going to Evans and Herchak. The Klippers added to their lead at the eleven-minute mark as it was Evans connecting with Herchak once again for each players fourth point of the night, the secondary assist going to Kelan Simmonds.
A late powerplay goal for Drumheller put them back within two with just over three minutes left to play, and then in the final minute another marker made it 5-4. With 30 seconds remaining Klippers goaltender Brett O'Halloran managed to make the final of his 22 saves on the night as the Klippers hung on for the one-goal win.
The Klippers will now trim down to their regular season roster ahead of next week's opener, the front office already getting a head start on things after moving defenseman Rhett Vedress to the Melfort Mustangs for a third-round pick earlier this week.
After the Klippers September 19 opener in the Battlefords, it will be the home opener the next night September 20 against the North Stars, and the first game of the season inside Inter Pipeline Arena, all home games dropping the puck at 7:30.