The ninth point for the St. Albert Merchants in their last six games was Wednesday’s overtime loss in the Capital Junior B Hockey League.
The Merchants are 3-0-3 over the recent stretch and 13-9-4 overall after the 4-3 setback to the Stony Plain Flyers (11-11-3) at Glenn Hall Centennial Arena.
The last game before the Christmas break was Friday against the Edmonton Mustangs (7-18) in St. Albert but the score was unavailable at press time.
When tied after regulation time, the Merchants are 1-4 after the Flyers scored with 12 seconds left in the extra period.
The Flyers struck three times in the opening frame and the Merchants replied in the second with a pair by Matt Havens and Brenden Passek’s power-play marker.
The second goal by Havens was his team-high 18th to knot it at three with 6:34 to go in the period. The point was his 45th in 26 games for fifth place in league scoring.
The Flyers were outshot 41-39 as Ethan Crotty (6-5, 4.05 GAA) made his third consecutive start for the Merchants.
The result left the Merchants two points back of the third-place Beverly Warriors (16-9) in the west division.
The Merchants ring in the new year Jan. 6 against the division-leading Morinville Jets (17-5-4) at 8 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
Hat-tricks by Ethan Whillans, Ethan Leyer and Ryley Morgan powered the St. Albert Gregg Distributors Sabres past the PAC Saints in Wednesday’s bantam AAA game in Spruce Grove.
Ethan Edwards, a defenceman who moved up to play forward in the 11-2 blowout of the Saints (4-17-4), chipped in with three assists.
Kyle Nelson (11-0-1) was in net for the bounce-back win by the Sabres (19-1-1) after last weekend’s 5-0 loss to the Calgary Flames (9-8-5) in St. Albert.
Sunday the Sabres start a stretch of three games in five days when they visit the SSAC Southgate Lions (2-16-4) at 4:15 p.m. at Millwoods Arena.
Monday the Sabres play the Maple Leafs (7-12-3) at 8 p.m. at Clareview Arena.
Thursday the Sabres host the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (17-3-1) at 7 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
