The Grand Island-Lewiston-Porter rivalry is one that goes way back, and the latest match up in the saga is one that neither team will soon forget. It seemed fitting that a captain would score the game-winning goal, and on Friday night at Niagara University, it was Lew-Port captain Kurt Magers who scored 28 seconds into overtime to give his team the 5-4 victory.
“GI’s been our biggest rivals for God knows how long, and it feels good to beat ’em,” Magers said immediately following the game. “Never can. Feels good to win.”
The entire game had its share of dramatic goals, lead changes, penalties, and power play goals that led up to Magers being the hero of the night.
It was Lew-Port that took the first lead of the game as Jacob Peters scored 9:27 into the first period and Evan Korpolinski scored just 26 seconds later to give the Lancers a quick 2-0 lead that they carried into the second period.
But it was Grand Island that owned the second period as two of 16 second period shots found the back of the net. First it was Brandon Snyder for the Vikings 2:39 into the second, and Colin Bellinger scored with 1:45 left in the second to tie the game at two.
Bellinger scored again just 3:57 into the third to give the Vikings their first lead of the game, but it didn’t last long. Korpolinski’s second of the game tied the score at three less than three minutes later. And with 4:59 left in the third, Braden Regis gave Lew-Port the lead once more.
But of course, like so many of Lew-Port’s games leading up to Friday night, this one had to go to overtime as well. Grand Island’s Austin Blair made sure that happened when he tied the game at four with 1:37 left to play.
“We’ve been to overtime — this is our fourth time,” Lew-Port coach Kevin Kirsch said. “We started off with the power play, so a good way to get momentum into overtime is to get the puck in deep and start working on the power play and hopefully good things would happen.”
A Grand Island penalty late in the third period gave the Lancers a power play to start overtime, and Magers needed just 28 seconds to find the back of the net. Korpolinski added an assist to his two goals.
“I didn’t picture that happening, but we’ll take it,” Kirsch said. “Kurt got the break and made a nice shot — a perfect shot, and congratulations to him.”
Lew-Port captain Kurt Magers holds his game puck after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime.
“Just kinda got it to the net, I guess,” Magers said. “Wasn’t really thinking, just trying to get it in, ended up going near side over the blocker.”
Kirsch was “ecstatic” for his hardworking captain.
“He comes to work every practice; he’s out there working hard,” Kirsch said. “Every game, he’s out there working hard. He doesn’t always score the goals, but he’s doing all the dirty work to set up Evan [Korpolinski], and it’s awesome.”
Not to be forgotten were Korpolinski’s two goals earlier in the game and the hard work that he too puts in every night.
“That’s Evan,” Kirsch said. “Every night is game night for Evan. He shows up. He’s constant motion, constant effort too, so you can’t take a shift off against him. He’s gonna push the pace, and that’s what we rely on him for.”
Magers, also ecstatic after winning the game against hated rival Grand Island, did his best to credit every teammate, from goaltender Nick Shotwell, who made 32 saves, to Korpolinski, who set him up for the game-winning goal.
“Shotwell did a great job in net,” Magers said. “Kirsch behind the boards, always using his voice. Shotwell did great out there. Regis had an awesome shot. Teammates did awesome. Great pass by Evan Korpolinski at the end there.”
Kirsch spoke of how needed the win was, and to win in the fashion they did was a huge boost for the Lancers.
“We were winless in our last seven, so we were struggling,” Kirsch said. “We got ties, we got points, so any win at this point is a good win. It just happened to be against Grand Island, so good effort by Grand Island. Congratulations to them for a good effort. They’re not going home empty-handed; they got a point out of the deal too, and they earned it. It was a hard fought game; it was a great game to be a part of.”
“Feels pretty awesome,” Magers said.