The 2014 Memorial Cup set a tournament record with a semi-final game that lasted 102:32. The WHL record for the longest game is 136:56 (Kootenay over Kamloops 3-2 on March 25, 2003). This year’s Royal Bank Cup final in Vernon was completed in a measly 75:01 (Yorkton 4-3 in OT over Carleton Place). Yes, there are overtimes games of note, but reflecting back seven years ago, I am reminded of the “special” game at CN Centre, the longest I have ever experienced in person.
While watching the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-3 victory over the Val-D’or Foreurs in this year’s Memorial Cup semi-final on May 23rd, (two days prior to the Oil Kings 6-3 championship victory over the Guelph Storm) I had flashbacks to the RBC semi-finals in 2007. The Oil Kings-Foreurs contest, which ended on a Curtis Lazar goal at 2:42 of triple overtime, did not measure up to the Prince George Spruce Kings 3-2 victory over the Camrose Kodiaks which concluded at 6:01 of the 5th overtime. That’s right, a breathtaking 146 minutes and one second of hockey.
The game in Prince George began Saturday night and ended early Sunday morning, nearly six hours after the puck dropped as Jason Yuel, redirecting a pass from Tyler Helfrich, scored at 1:01 a.m. local time to give the Spruce Kings arguably the biggest goal in team history.
Later that same day, a weary Prince George team, went on to lose the RBC final 3-1 to the Aurora (Ontario) Tigers.
One realizes there’s always a chance in a playoff hockey game of overtime, and perhaps a lengthy OT, but I and the pro Prince George crowd of 3,849 had no idea what was in store when we arrived to watch the RBC second semi-final on May 12th, 2007.
Since it was Saturday night that turned into Sunday morning, I was surprised that as many as a few hundred fans did not stay for the duration, although I would suggest that over 3,000 fans were left in the building when Yuel tallied the winning goal.
The goaltending that night/morning will always be a highlight. Jordan White, who played 38 career WHL games, including 10 with the PG Cougars, had 89 saves for the host Spruce Kings, who were outshot by the Kodiaks 93-77. Camrose goalie Allen York settled for a paltry 74 saves.
Camrose forced overtime on a goal with just 1:51 left in the 3rd and White made arguably the save of the tournament with his glove off a Mike Connolly breakaway at the midway point of the first overtime.
White, born March 12, 1988, went on to play university hockey for UBC and made headlines for signing a one-day amateur contract as an emergency backup goalie with the San Jose Sharks on January 20, 2011.
So, how does the length of the game in Prince George compare to other multi overtimes? The Canadians Hockey League (CHL) has never had a game last so long. The American Hockey League (AHL), in its 78-year history, has never had a game take as much time, although the league had a five overtime game in 2008 (Philadelphia Phantoms 3-2 over the Albany River Rats) but that was three minutes and three seconds shorter. The KHL in Russia has also never had a game that lengthy.
The NHL, nearly 100 years old (founded November 26, 1917) has only had three longer games. The Detroit Red Wings beat the Montreal Maroons 1-0 on March 24, 1936 in the 6th overtime (total of 176:30). The Toronto Maple Leafs edged the Boston Bruins on April 3, 1933, also in the 6th overtime (total of 164:46). The Philadelphia Flyers doubled the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on May 4, 2000 as Keith Primeau scored the winner in the 5th overtime period (total of 152:01). That Flyers-Penguins second-round series game was just six minutes longer than the Spruce Kings-Kodiaks game.
After doing post-game interviews, I took the short walk home leaving CN Centre at 1:30 a.m. I had never been on the streets of Prince George that late and haven’t been since. Yet, I wasn’t concerned about safety because my mind was pre-occupied with a mind-boggling game in P.G., one that likely will never be duplicated.
Granted that triple overtime Memorial Cup semi-final game one week ago was long and entertaining, but I can state first hand it still pales by comparison to the 2007 Spruce Kings five overtime 3-2 dramatic win over the Kodiaks.
From the Quote Rack:
There’s a new mens golf shoe coming out designed by Caroline Wozniacki that has special insulation and fur lining on the inside–it’s designed to keep the wearer from getting cold feet.
Well, the woman claiming to be Giants rookie Odell Beckham’s fiancée does not exist, and was an internet fabrication. But I hear that Manti T’eo is going to claim her on the rebound.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis, who was hitting .170, is on the DL after spraining his ankle celebrating Josh Beckett’s no-hitter. Which means Ellis will be contributing about as much for the next two weeks as he has for the last two.
Rapper 50 Cent threw out a first pitch that was so bad, he’s received an offer to join the New York Mets bullpen.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Tara, the cat who saved a boy from a dog attack, threw the first pitch at a Bakersfield Blaze minor-league game. Early scouting reports say she’s a southclaw.
Have you seen back9network.com’s 2014 Golf Swimsuit Gallery photo of golfer and model Blair O’Neal holding a driver? She looks great, no ifs, ands or putts about it.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
The Pacers may not win the title, but I understand LeBron James has nominated Lance Stephenson for the Knute Rockne Award for best inspirational pep talk.
Australian Open winner Li Na was eliminated from the French Open in the first round. I guess for her
it was Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, hey hey hey, goodbye.
Comedy Writer Marc Ragovin of New York
A Chinese woman mountain climber is suspected of cheating by using a helicopter as part of her journey to the top of Mt Everest. Her name, Wang Jing, translates to Rosie Ruiz in English.
Two women have passed all preliminary tests and are ready to become NFL refs. They will make their debut during the pre-season this fall. They should do okay as long as they stay away from Joe Namath on the sidelines.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (http://alwaysfunny.com/)
And in case you missed it:
San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain spent time on the DL after he sliced his finger while trying to cut a sandwich. Upon his return to the lineup Cain started using his forkball.
Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio station 94X. His column appears Fridays on hqprincegeorge.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected].
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller