The defending Zone 4 High School Hockey League champion Morden Thunder are one win away from back-to-back-to-back championships after a 5-2 win over the Carman Cougars in game one of the best-of-three championship series. 

"I think it was a great game played by two really good teams. It takes a lot to get to this point in the season and I think it was a back and forth game," said Thunder coach Tyler Sloan. "A couple of bounces went our way and it was a good effort from everyone in the dressing room there."

After twenty minutes Matt Lehmann was the only player to the back of the net, with Leo Lotscher and Tyler Livingston picking up the helpers. 

The Thunder were able to score three times in the middle frame. Captain Jordan Blatz scored his first of two on the night, Keegan Fraser, and Keane Boucher also tallied for Morden. Meanwhile, Lotscher was able to keep the Cougars within one after two periods of play. 

"These playoff's we have played from behind before. We were down 4-1 to Altona in the first game and won 5-4," explained Cougars coach Marlin Metcalf. Even after being down 3-2 after the second period I was optimistic as to what we could do to come back. Unfortunately, we didn't play the third period we needed to play. It's a great team over there. We are probably two of the most evenly matched teams in the league."

Owen Domitruk made 32 saves in the win for the Thunder, while Carman net-minder Alex Clemis allowed five goals on 34 shots. 

In the third period, Rylan McCallum and Blatz padded Morden's lead in the third. 

"It was nice to get a couple of goals coming back," said Thunder captain Jordan Blatz. "Without my teammates around me making those plays, I don't get those opportunities, but I am happy I could get a couple for my team."

Game two of this series goes in Carman Wednesday night.

"Do the things we worked on all year," said Metcalf. "Our guys know what they need to do. It's all the little details that make a difference and it's all the little details add up to a 'W' at the end of the game."