WINNIPEG, MB - Jonny Hooker's overtime winner lifted the Manitoba Bisons to a 3-2 win versus the Alberta Golden Bears on Friday night at Wayne Fleming Arena.
 
The unsung hero of the match was third year goalie Ross Hawryluk who made 33 saves in the win, including a show stopping effort in the second period.
 
The first period started slow and steady. After a scramble in front of the net 6 minutes in, Cameron Trimble poked in the loose puck under the leg of Golden Bears netminder Matt Berlin to give Manitoba the early advantage.
 
Both teams went stride for stride after the opening goal, neither side threatening the other with golden opportunities for the rest of the first.
 
Hawryluk started the second period with a huge save for the Bisons while tangled up with an Alberta player to keep the Golden Bears off the board.
 
That lead didn't last for long though as the Golden Bears broke out in a two-on-one where Adam Hall finished off a beautiful saucer pass from Josh Prokop.
 
Alberta continued to pour on their offence on the power play but Hawryluk stood on his head to keep the score deadlocked at 1-1.
 
Hawryluk's unbelievable save from a two-on-zero while Manitoba was on the power play proved crucial in the end.
 
The Bisons offence turned it up a notch at the start of the third. Codey Behun and Kian Calder contributed assists while Jackson Arpin did the rest on a beautiful wrap around goal for his second of the season.
 
The Bisons battled to keep the Golden Bears out, but it didn't last. With 2 minutes left Alberta popped one to tie the game at 2-2. Noah Boyko splashed through enemy lines to deadlock the game for the second time on the evening.
 
Jonny Hooker played the hero in overtime, slotting home the game winner on the power play 20 seconds in.
 
Manitoba picked up their first win vs Alberta in two years and first home win vs the Golden Bears in almost exactly four years to the day November 23, 2019).