Everett Silvertips (3) at Victoria Royals (2) – OT5

Silvertips win series 4-2

Upon arriving for Sunday afternoon’s Game 6 – scheduled for a 2 p.m. Pacific start – you can bet both the Everett Silvertips and Victoria Royals didn’t plan on being at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena until nearly 8 p.m. Pacific.

But that is exactly what happened as the two clubs skated for an astounding 151:36:00 – three periods of regulation, four complete overtime periods plus an additional 11:36 of the fifth overtime period – before Cal Babych scored on a breakaway to give the Everett Silvertips a 3-2 win and 4-2 series triumph while closing out the longest game in Western Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League history.

Silvertips goaltender Carter Hart, a prospect of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, made 64 saves to collect the 11th playoff victory of his WHL career. His counterpart Griffen Outhouse stood on his head in defeat, making 72 saves.

April 2, 2017 will now be entered into the WHL Official Guide & Record Book as the date for the longest game in league history, surpassing the previous mark of 136:56:00 set by the Kamloops Blazers and Kootenay ICE back on March 25, 2003.

It will also be entered into the CHL record book as date for the longest game in national history, surpassing the previous mark of 146:31:00 set by the Victoriaville Tigers and Hull Olympiques on March 19, 1999.

Over the course of nearly six hours of nail-biting hockey, there was plenty that occurred. Amidst it all, the game had a certain feeling that suggested it just might endure. But no one in their right mind anticipated it might stretch into a fifth overtime period.

After a scoreless first period, the two teams got to trading offensive blows in the second.

First, it was Babych capitalizing off a faceoff win deep in Victoria territory. A bouncing puck careened towards the chest of the 20-year-old veteran forward, who was stationed at the hashmarks in the slot. Taking a swing, Babych managed to redirected the flying biscuit past Outhouse, giving the Silvertips a 1-0 lead 6:31 into the second-period proceedings.

The Royals got a quick response courtesy two of their reliable guns. Tyler Soy sent a long pass towards to the top of Hart’s crease where a streaking Regan Nagy redirected it with one touch, beating the Everett goaltender to the tie the game a mere 1:11 after Babych had opened the scoring.

But the Royals weren’t done there.

With a power play up on the board, Mitchell Prowse wound up and fired a heavy blast from the left point. On its way to the net, the puck was deflected by the outstretched stick of Jared Dmytriw and snuck short side past the blocker of Hart, giving the Royals a 2-1 edge with 3:16 to go in the second period.

There was only one goal to speak of in the third period and it was a big one.

Silvertips captain Noah Juulsen sent a long point shot towards the Royals crease. On its way, the puck appeared to hit a Victoria defender, changing direction and finding a lane past Outhouse to knot the game 2-2 only 1:36 into the third period.

The Silvertips continued to press, looking for the series-winning marker. Late in regulation, with 19-year-old Outhouse appearing down and out, Connor Dewar had a glorious opportunity in tight only to have Outhouse – from his stomach – kick up his left leg to reject the point-blank chance.

.@outhouse40 protecting the house! What a save with the left pad. Keeps this game tied late in the 3rd. #EVTvsVIC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/uEsV421lrx — #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) April 2, 2017

Without a doubt, that was a game- and series-extending stop from the athletic Royals netminder and it ensured overtime was added to the menu Sunday evening.

Still, no one anticipated five overtime periods.

The two teams continued to trade opportunities in the first overtime, but it was Outhouse coming up with a massive save on Dominic Zwerger late in the period to give his team another life, lining up double overtime.

As play carried into the second overtime, a certain tentative approach took over with the stakes high and fatigue setting in for all involved. Still there was no answer.

The third overtime period was more of the same.

By the fourth overtime period, players were noticeable moving through figurative quicksand. Each stride, each save, each shot required more labour than the last.

The Silvertips managed to ring a puck off the iron behind Outhouse. But play carried on and at the conclusion of the fourth overtime period, the Silvertips and Royals had established a new WHL record for the longest game in league history.

As play entered the fifth overtime period, the game eventually stretched beyond the pre-existing CHL record. Moments after that, Babych – the son of NHL great Dave Babych – decided enough was enough.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound product of North Vancouver burst across centre ice and split the defence. Fighting off the Royals defenceman desperately trying to chase him down, Babych hit the hashmarks and snapped a quick wrist shot high past the glove of Outhouse, silencing the Victoria crowd, giving his team a 3-2 win and punching a ticket to a second-round playoff date with the Seattle Thunderbirds.

For Babych, in his 15th career WHL post-season game, he collected his first two playoff goals and they couldn’t have come at a more critical time.

As the outcome set in, the Royals left their bench, congregated at the blueline and saluted their fans before lining up to shake hands and congratulate the Silvertips on a hard-fought, six-game series win.

Ultimately, embraces were exchanged and rightfully so. After more than 150 minutes of tooth-and-nail hockey, each and every player on both sides of the puck deserves to hold their head high.

Though the Silvertips move on in the 2017 WHL Playoffs and the Royals season comes to a close, both teams will go down in Western Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League history.

“Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Longest Games in WHL Playoffs History

151:36:00 – April 2, 2017 – Everett Silvertips (3) at Victoria Royals (2)

136:56:00 – March 25, 2003 – Kamloops Blazers (2) at Kootenay ICE (3)

126:05:00 – April 10, 2009 – Spokane Chiefs (3) at Vancouver Giants (2)

122:46:00 – March 21, 1996 – Lethbridge Hurricanes (2) at Regina Pats (3)

119:41:00 – April 8, 2006 – Saskatoon Blades (3) at Medicine Hat Tigers (4)