It was an exciting night of hockey at Takhini Arena, as Medicine Chest Pharmacy faced-off against AON-Reed Stenhouse Insurance in the Oldtimers Hockey League on Thursday.

In the first period Medicine Chest came out flying, dictating the tempo in the early stages of the hockey game. The puck stayed in the AON zone in the early going, and when they were able to breakout on the rush it was quickly stymied by the swarming defence of Medicine Chest.

With play squarely in the AON zone Medicine Chest peppered goalie Rob Green with shots from all over the ice.

Green was up to the challenge turning pucks away, but was finally beaten midway through the period when Adam Green banged home a rebound past a sprawling goalie to give Medicine Chest a 1-0 advantage.

At the 11:59 mark of the first Medicine Chest’s Peter Kirby found his way to the penalty box. Although AON could not capitalize on the man advantage, it allowed them to find their legs as they began generating more opportunities on Medicine Chest goalie Mike Hawkins.

The ice tilted AON’s way the rest of the period and they finally got on the scoreboard when Lester Balsillie shoveled a rebound past Hawkins with 5:26 remaining.

With the game knotted at one heading into the second the teams came out strong as they both searched for that elusive second goal. Each team generated scoring chances but the game dissolved into a good old-fashioned goaltenders duel.

Although both teams were able to get their scoring chances, AON was sustaining more pressure, peppering Hawkins with shots from the slot, while Medicine Chest had strong breakouts leading to 2-on-1 and 3-on-2 chances, but they could not find they back of the net.

AON finally broke the stalemate with 7:02 remaining in the second period. Forward Blaine Demchuk received a pass from his defenceman and broke into the zone on the left side, when he reached the edge of the face-off circle he snapped a wrist-shot far side on Hawkins, hitting the post and in, giving his team a 2-1 lead.

“Everything was going good until that final shot there, I couldn’t see the puck,” said Hawkins after the game. “He (Demchuk) has a real heavy shot and he managed to beat me.”

In the final minutes of the game Medicine Chest swarmed AON but could not put one past Green. Demchuk’s goal held up as the winner.

Despite the loss Hawkins liked his team’s effort, saying it’s always a good time when you get to play hockey.

“We were up for the challenge,” said Hawkins. “We got that first one on a good lucky bounce, but after they started working us and grinding us, they are a big strong team.”

We are all really close though, I’ve played hockey with all those guys last year and we all become really good friends, it’s the best league.”

In the late game Thursday Kilrich Building Centres defeated Air North 7-2. Kilrich goal scorers were: Brian Currie (3), Dustin Heffner (2), Tim Turner-Davis and Dave White. Air North got both their goals from Gerry Brandt.

Other scores from around the league:

Wednesday: Yukon Inn defeated Tim Hortons 5-2. Goal scorers for the Yukon Inn were: Greg Charlie (2), Murray Arsenault, Shawn Kinsella and Steve Arrell. Tim Hortons goal scorers were: Doug Cote and Anthony Grottoli.

EDI Environmental Dynamics and TA Firth and Sons Insurance played to a 4-4 tie. EDI goal scorers were: Maxime Durge-Sasseville, Marcel Barrault, Ron Limoges and Mike Sage. TA Firth goal scorers were: Ron Daub (2), Peter Johnston and Lawrence Ignace.