The St. Albert Merchants deposited their fifth win in a row in the Capital Junior B Hockey League at the expense of the Strathcona Bruins.
Ryan Cooper’s team-high sixth goal, a penalty shot in the first period, and three assists paced the Merchants to their sixth victory in seven games in Sunday’s 5-2 decision at the Strathcona Olympiette Centre.
The first-year Merchant and midget AAA graduate of the St. Albert Tire Warehouse Raiders is the top point producer on the Money Men with 16 in seven games, three more than Matt Havens and eight ahead of Cam Mazur.
Thomas Rotundo opened the scoring and in the second Jake Mercier and Krys Kraychy potted goals 3:25 minutes apart to make it 4-2.
Scott MacDonald tallied in the third against the last-place Bruins (1-5-1) in the east division as the Merchants improved to 3-1 on the road.
Shots were 35-27 for the Merchants and Ryen Papirny (4-0, 2.63 GAA) was in net.
Papirny also faced a game-high 40 shots in Friday’s 4-2 outcome against the hometown Sherwood Park Knights (2-6).
Kraychy’s winner at 2:52 of the third snapped a 2-2 tie and Mazur closed out the win into an empty net.
Havens and Connor Tupala also lit the lamp and Stephen Cretain had two helpers.
The Merchants (6-1), ranked first in the west standings, host the Edmonton Mustangs (2-5) Friday at 8 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
The St. Albert Tire Warehouse Raiders won their first home game of the season after losing twice at Akinsdale Arena.
Aidan Steinke, Xavier Halterman, Cole Gupta, Garrett Clegg and Jack Langenhahn scored in Sunday’s 5-1 result against the Canadian Athletic Club.
Peter Michailides and Logan Hunter collected two assists apiece as the Raiders evened their record to 2-2 in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League and both wins were against the CAC (0-4)
The Raiders out-shot the visitors 34-23 and Chris Curr (2-1, 2.03 GAA) was between the pipes.
The Raiders were coming off an 8-5 loss to the SEC Tigers of Medicine Hat (2-1-1) Saturday in St. Albert.
Period scores were 3-2 and 6-4 for the Tigers as they capitalized four times on the power play. Their last goal was an empty netter.
Clegg and Gupta struck twice, Spencer Augot also tallied and Peter Corrigan and Owen Churko added two assists apiece.
Clegg leads the Raiders in points with six and is tied with Gupta for the most goals at three.
The shot count was 34-26 for the Tigers. Mitchell Reidy let in six goals on 25 shots in his first start and Curr finished with eight saves.
The next game is Saturday against the Kings (4-0) in Sherwood Park at 8:45 p.m. and Sunday the Raiders host the Calgary Royals (3-0-1) at 1:15 p.m.
The undefeated St. Albert Gregg Distributors Sabres can extend their winning streak to seven games in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League in Thursday’s contest against the Canadian Athletic Club.
Faceoff is 7 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
Eight points separate the Sabres (6-0) and CAC (2-3) in the nitro north division.
The only AMBHL team with more points than the Sabres is the Charger north division-leading Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (6-0-1).
The last win for the Sabres was Sunday’s 11-3 drubbing of the Maple Leafs (2-4) in St. Albert.
Ethan Leyer’s hat-trick for a team-high nine goals on the season and three assists paced the attack.
Michael Benning recorded two goals and three assists, Matthew Savoie posted one goal and four assists for a team-leading 17 points and Carter Savoie added one goal and three assists.
Ryley Morgan also scored twice and Austin Spiridakis and Drew Kuzma had one goal each as the Sabres raked the Leafs 50-18 in shots. In net was Kyle Nelson (3-0, 2.01 GAA).
The senior AA Morinville Kings spread the scoring around in Saturday’s home debut in the North Central Hockey League.
Cole Cavell, Kyle Harris, Jordan Pelletier and Thomas Brennan connected in the second period and Ashton Pietersma sealed the deal into an empty net in the 5-2 victory over the Eckville Eagles at Ray McDonald Sports Centre.
Cavell and Wayne Gatza chipped in with two assists apiece against the Eagles (2-1), who relocated to Eckville from Big Valley after last season.
Shots favoured the Kings 33-27 as Ty Clelland backstopped the team to its second win to kick-off the season.
The Kings skate in Daysland on Saturday against the senior AA provincial champion Northstars at 7:30 p.m.
