PORT HARDY—With less than six minutes left in Friday's 'A' League game, the Port Hardy Warriors enjoyed a comfortable 5-1 lead over the Neucel Islander of Port Alice.
Before the final horn sounded, things got decidedly uncomfortable.
A seemingly meaningless insurance goal by Jared Breitkreitz became the critical game-winner for the Warriors after the Islanders unleashed a four-goal flurry over the final five minutes, 23 seconds before bowing, 6-5.
Wayne Magnusson capped a hat trick with a goal with 25 seconds to play to bring the Islanders within one, and Warriors goalie Cole Morton had to withstand one final flurry before the buzzer sounded.
Jordan Nicholson and Quinn Mellow scored two goals each for the Warriors (8-8-1), who snapped a modest two-game losing streak to the Islanders (7-8) and prevented the Port Alice squad from moving ahead of them in the standings.
Russell Murray had a goal and an assist and Adam Contois scored for the Islanders. Adam Hall took the loss in goal.
Dylan Dirom and Brett Demoe had two assists each for the Warriors, with Breitkreitz and Corey Swain adding helpers.
Jason Hodson and Mark Preston had two assists each for the Islanders.