Bears erase 4-1 deficit, end 2025 with 5-4 win over MacEwan

EDMONTON - Trailing 4-1 midway through the third period, the Golden Bears scored three unanswered to force overtime, before eventually winning 5-4 in a shootout. 

The win snapped the Bears six-game losing streak, and sends them into the winter break with an 8-7-3 record, and a two-point lead over MacEwan for second place in the West Division of Canada West. 

Justin Hall led Alberta with two goals and an assist, including a first-period equalizer and a second-period power-play strike. Tyson Laventure added two goals, scoring once on the power play and once at even strength during Alberta's third-period push. Dawson Davidson recorded three assists, while Gleb Tkach scored the late third-period tying goal.

Goaltender Ethan Barwick earned the win with 25 saves in relief, allowing just one goal after entering late in the first period.

MacEwan's offence was driven by Kadyn Chabot, who scored twice on first-period power plays, and Vincent Scott, who opened the game with a goal 16 seconds in and later added an assist. Liam Hughes added a second-period marker.

First Period

MacEwan stunned the home crowd just 16 seconds in when Vincent Scott finished a feed from Keaton Dowhaniuk and Kadyn Chabot to take a 1-0 lead. Alberta answered seconds later when Hall sent hundreds of Bears over the glass with a stellar individual effort. 

The momentum swung back to the Griffins during a parade of Alberta penalties. At 3:10, Chabot roofed a power-play marker set up by Logan Dowhaniuk and Myles Gauld. Less than two minutes later, Chabot struck again on the power play, this time from Sam Simard and Scott to send MacEwan into the intermission ahead 3-1.

Second Period

After sustained pressure, MacEwan extended the lead at 8:15, when Liam Hughes buried a cross-slot pass from Rhett Dekowny and Dylan Bidyk. Alberta countered on the power play at 11:05, with Justin Hall finishing a feed from Adam Hall and Laventure, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

Third Period

Alberta surged back with two goals in the final ten minutes. At 10:31, Tyson Laventure struck on the power play, converting a setup from Justin Hall and Davidson. The Bears tied the game at 15:58, when Gleb Tkach snapped home a feed from Owen Pederson and Davidson to force overtime.

Laventure scored the lone shootout goal, with Barwick making all three saves to secure the win for the Bears.