Ice Llamas storm back to win Game 7

Owen Woolhouse scores five goals in Game 7, leading Ice Llamas to stunning comeback victory

Ice Llamas captain Owen Woolhouse celebrates his second SportsKlub Arena Series championship.

Nothing could have prepared those in attendance for how Game 7 of the SportsKlub Arena Series would ultimately unfold.

Studabakers Beachside looked in complete control early, riding a dominant offensive surge to what felt like a commanding lead behind Mitchell Webb, who delivered one of the most explosive performances in Arena Series history. Webb opened the scoring and quickly added another from Mitchell Hurtubise, setting the tone for what appeared to be a runaway.

Hurtubise added one of his own from Aidan Baxter, pushing the momentum further in Studabakers’ favour before Famous Archie’s responded.

Joe Nieleszeruk and Owen Woolhouse combined on Archie’s first goal, briefly slowing the tide, but the pushback didn’t last. Connor Flannery restored control for Studabakers off a setup from Webb, and Webb struck again shortly after, finishing off another feed from Hurtubise. Shawn McManus added to the growing lead from Nolan Inglis, and Webb completed his fifth goal of the game from Steve Hamilton, putting Studabakers firmly in the driver’s seat.

Even as Woolhouse picked up his second of the night off Braeden Price, Studabakers answered again, with Webb finishing off a third assist from Hurtubise to make it 8-3. At that point, the outcome felt all but decided. But Game 7 had other plans.

What followed was a collapse that will be talked about for a long time in SportsKlub circles. Woolhouse ignited the comeback, scoring from Braydon Price and Tamara Evans to spark life on the Archie’s bench.

Moments later, Braydon Mawdsley buried one from Evans and Kirk Duffy, and suddenly the energy inside the rink shifted. Woolhouse struck again, this time finishing a play from Evans to bring Archie’s within striking distance, and the pressure began to mount.

Josh Buys then took over.

Set up by Brayden Price and Tamara Evans, Buys cut the deficit further before scoring again unassisted to tie the game. Momentum had fully flipped.

Then, with everything on the line, Buys completed the comeback, burying his third goal of the sequence to give Famous Archie’s a stunning 9-8 victory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z5sTVmh9Ew

Woolhouse finished the night with five goals and an assist to match Webb’s five-goal effort, while Buys delivered a natural hat trick at the most critical moment of the season.

Evans and Price each played a key role in the comeback with three assists apiece.

For Studabakers, the loss will sting. Webb’s five-goal performance, combined with a three-assist night from Hurtubise, should have been enough to secure the title. Instead, it became part of a game defined not by dominance, but by what slipped away.

Famous Archie’s, meanwhile, completed one of the most dramatic Game 7 comebacks the Arena Series has ever seen, turning an 8-3 deficit into a legendary championship moment.