There will be no return to the Telus Cup for the Vancouver Northwest Giants.
The Giants travelled to central Alberta on April 6 and 7 to play the Alberta champions, the Red Deer Optimist Rebels at Red Deer Arena.
After losing a tight 1-0 decision on Friday, the Giants lost 4-3 in double overtime on Saturday. The Rebels now advance to the national midget championships, the Telus Cup, on April 23 to 29 in Leduc, AB.
In the decider, the Giants had no answer for Dylan Thudium.
Thudium's second goal of the game, at 2:02 of the second overtime, gave the Red Deer Optimist Rebels a 4-3 win and marks the second time in three years it will be representing the Pacific region in the midget tournament.
The Rebels had taken the first game of the series on Friday night, 1-0 on Ty Mappin's winner, which was originally, and mistakenly, credited to Thudium.
The Giants came out with a lot of energy on Saturday, staking themselves to a 2-0 lead only nine minutes into the second period. Adam Helewka opened the scoring at 2:42 before captain Taylor Tanti doubled the margin at 8:50.
Red Deer then called a timeout and it paid immediate dividends, as only 55 seconds later, Thudium got his first goal of the game to narrow the margin to one.
The Rebels equalized on a power play late in the second period, as Logan Fisher tipped home a point shot.
Nick Glackin gave the home team the lead 6:59 into the third period, but the plucky Giants got their equalizer at 9:44, when Josh Thrower's point shot eluded Optimist goalie Dasan Sydora.
The Giants were badly outplayed in the first overtime, as the Rebels outshot them 11-0. Only the play of Giants goalie Liam Smith allowed the game to get to a second extra session.
It didn't take long for Thudium to play hero, taking a Taylor Lomsnes pass and scoring the marker that sends the Rebels off to Leduc.
Red Deer outshot Vancouver 49-24 in the final game.
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