Merchants rising
The St. Albert Merchants banked three out of four points last weekend at Akinsdale Arena.The Merchants (16-12-1) deposited their first win on home ice since Nov. 24 in Sunday’s 7-5 scorefest against the Stony Plain Flyers (12-16-3).
Andy Barr and Peter Corrigan opened the scoring and Brenden Passek made it 3-2 before the first period ended.
The Flyers struck twice in the middle frame and Matt Havens pulled the Merchants even at four apiece 42 seconds into the third.
It was 5-4 Flyers when Cam Mazur, Mark Matsuba (power play) and newcomer Marco Runco, who played 18 games in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, put the Merchants on top for good.
Daniel Spatafora chipped in with four assists and Havens had three helpers.
The shot count was 19-6 in the third and 53-28 overall for the Merchants as Brandon Boughen (8-5, 3.95 GAA) started his third consecutive game for The Blue Guys.
Boughen was tested 38 times in Friday’s 3-2 shootout loss against the Strathcona Bruins as the Merchants recorded their first point in the Akinsdale barn after four losses.
Runco put the Merchants on the board in the first and Barr forced overtime with 1:36 to play.
The Merchants were credited with 28 shots.
With nine games left until the playoffs, the Merchants are fourth in the west division, five behind the North Edmonton Red Wings (18-10-2) and six ahead of the Flyers.
The Merchants are 6-8-1 at home when they host the Leduc Riggers (4-26) Friday at 8 p.m.
Jets grounded
Morinville Jets are firing blanks in the new year after two shutout losses in the Capital Junior B Hockey League.The Jets (18-9-2) suffered identical 3-0 setbacks to the Edmonton Mustangs (11-15-3) and the 2017 Founders Cup champion Wetaskiwin Icemen (22-6-1).
The Mustangs scored shorthanded, even strength and power play goals in the opening 40 minutes last Wednesday at Ray McDonald Sports Centre.
Shots were even at 33 apiece and Luke Hall (8-6, 3.70 GAA) was the Jets netminder.
The Jets also fell behind by three goals after two periods against the Icemen while giving up a pair on the power play Sunday in Wetaskiwin.
The Jets were outshot 51-33 by the east division leaders and Colton Kucher (8-4, 1.69 GAA) was in net.
The Jets and Icemen were whistled for 15 infractions apiece while combining for 138 penalty minutes overall and a couple of fights.
The Jets (756 PIM) are the most penalized team in the west division and the Icemen (805 PIM) are fourth in the east.
Tonight’s tilt between the Jets and Beverly Warriors (21-7-1), the top two teams in the west standings, starts at 8 p.m. at Clareview Arena.
Sunday the Jets host the Edmonton Royals (15-12-2) at 7:15 p.m.
Raiders slipping
The St. Albert Tire Warehouse Raiders slipped a notch in the north division standings in Sunday’s first-place showdown with the KC Pats.The 4-1 loss at Bill Hunter Arena dropped the Raiders (13-9-5) one point behind the Pats (15-9-2) and KC has a game in hand.
The Pats led 3-0 after two periods while connecting twice on the power play.
Jacob Hiemstra replied for the Raiders, 0-2-1 after going undefeated in 12 games at 8-0-4 in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League.
Shots were 40-33 for the Raiders and Evan Fradette (5-5-2, 1.98 GAA) was in net.
The first game for the Raiders after the 1-0 semifinal loss to the Red Deer Chiefs on Dec. 31 at the 40th annual Mac’s Midget AAA World Invitational Tournament in Calgary was Saturday’s 1-1 draw with the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (6-18-3) at JRC Arena.
Stuart Dovey potted the equalizer halfway through the third.
Shots were 34-27 for the Raiders and Mitch Reidy (8-4-3, 2.03 GAA) was between the pipes.
The next game is Sunday versus the Southside Athletic Club (6-12-8) at 1:15 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
Flyers moving up
The 13th game in a row without a loss lifted the St. Albert Flyers into a first-place tie in the north division of the Alberta Minor Midget AAA Hockey League.The midget 15 Flyers (15-3-6) pulled even with the Sherwood Park Squires (17-4-2) after settling for a 2-2 draw with the third-place Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (13-8-3) Sunday at Akinsdale Arena.
Mathieu Gautier and Ethan McKinley scored in support of netminder Matt Clement (5-1-3, 3.23 GAA) as the Flyers outshot the Rangers 33-28.
The day before in St. Albert, Ethan Barwick (10-2-3, 2.14 GAA) faced 28 shots while posting his second shutout in consecutive starts in the 2-0 decision against the Squires.
Dylan McFatridge and Ronin Pusch netted goals as the Squires suffered their first loss after nine wins and two ties.
The Flyers are sailing along at a 9-0-4 clip entering Friday’s contest against the SSAC Bulldogs (8-10-4) at 8:15 p.m. at Callingwood Recreation Centre.
Midget AA games
The Blues and the Source for Sports Crusaders of St. Albert have home games on tap this weekend at Mark Messier Arena.The Crusaders face-off against SSAC Don Wheaton (6-13-2) at 6 p.m. Saturday and the Blues play the Canadian Athletic Club (12-3-4) Sunday at 2:45 p.m. in the Northern Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League.
The Crusaders (12-5-2) are second in the Besa division after their third win in five games, 3-1 over the Lloydminster Blazers (3-17-2) Sunday in the Border City.
Rhys Mazur tallied twice and assisted Noah Fayad’s game winner, a power-play marker in the first period. Fayad also helped set up Mazur’s two goals.
Shots were 37-20 for the Crusaders and Spencer Hutson (5-3-2, 2.36 GAA) tended the twine.
The Blues (10-3-3) were 3-1-1 in five games before hosting Don Wheaton but Tuesday’s score was unavailable at press time.
The last game for the Blues was Saturday’s 4-3 loss to SSAC Lakewood Chevrolet (12-5-4) at Confederation Arena.
Michael Iatridis, Jake Strakowicz and Keigan Miller (shorthanded) lit the lamp and Ryley Osland was in net as the Blues were outshot 39-27.
The Blues are third in the Anderson division with games in hand on the Canadian Athletic Club and Lakewood Chevrolet.
