The second loss in three games for the St. Albert Merchants was Wednesday’s 5-3 setback to the Beverly Warriors at Londonderry Arena.
Beverly (4-1) outscored the Money Men 4-2 in the middle frame to lead 4-3. Two of Beverly’s goals were sniped at even strength, followed by markers on the power play and penalty kill.
Zach Gonek’s first goal as a Merchant was a shorthanded effort in the opening period.
Blair Macuch made it 2-0 early in the second on the power play.
It was 4-2 late in the period when Brent McGugan capitalized with the man advantage.
Dan Rombough and Casey Reid chipped in with two assists apiece.
The Merchants outshot Beverly 32-20. In net was Ethan Maertens-Poole (3-1, 3.75 GAA).
Last season, the Merchants didn’t suffer their second loss in regulation time until the 14th game, en route to a first-place 34-3-1 record.
The Founders Cup finalists in the Capital Junior B Hockey League and fourth-place team at provincials was 4-2 prior to Friday’s road game against the Beaumont Chiefs (2-3). The score was unavailable at press time.
Sunday the Merchants play the North Edmonton Red Wings (1-3-1) at 8 p.m. at Londonderry.
The St. Albert Raiders are in Calgary this weekend for two games in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League.
Today the Raiders (1-1-2) skate against the Flames (1-2-1) at Father David Bauer Arena and Sunday they face-off against the Northstars (2-0-2) at Max Bell Arena. Game times are 2:30 p.m.
Last weekend the Raiders settled for ties of 1-1 against the Northstars in St. Albert and 3-3 against the Sherwood Park Kings (0-0-4) on the road.
The Raiders gave up the tying goal in both games in the third period with 1:11 remaining against the Northstars and 8:52 to go against the Kings.
Colin Schmidt scored against the Northstars as the Raiders outshot the visitors 45-29. In net was Joshua Dechaine (1-1-1, 2.86 GAA).
Parker AuCoin (shorthanded), Brendan Kallis and Schmidt found the back of the net in Sherwood Park.
The Kings tallied twice on the power play.
Shots were 42-21 for the Kings. Matt Murray was making his first start in net for the Raiders.
The next home game is Oct. 18 against the Canadian Athletic Club at 1:15 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
The puck drops twice this weekend for the St. Albert Slash in the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League.
Today the Slash (6-4) are in Sherwood Park to play the Fury (6-4) at 4:15 p.m. and Sunday’s game against the Edmonton Thunder (2-3-2) starts at noon at Kinsmen Arena.
The Slash and Thunder, the six-time reigning AMMFHL champions and 2014 Esso Cup silver medallists, meet again Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. at Go Auto Arena.
Last weekend, the Slash recorded identical wins of 3-2 at home against the Southeast Tigers (1-8) of Medicine Hat and the Lloydminster Steelers (2-5-1) in the Border City.
Megan Lalor’s goal with 1:14 to play against the Tigers was the game winner.
MacKenzie Reynolds and Breanna Jones also scored. Shots were 42-22 for the Slash and Natalie Bender (2-3, 2.51 GAA) was in net.
Lalor tallied twice and Ella Fedoruk also lit the lamp against the Steelers. The Slash outshot the home team 48-21. In net was Erynn Shantz (4-1, 1.26 GAA).
Garrett Clegg scored early in the third period and Colton Girard stopped 18 shots as the St. Albert Sabres blanked the Leduc Oil Kings 1-0 on the road Thursday.
The Sabres (2-2-2) are undefeated in three games after their second win in three contests.
In the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League the Sabres are ranked third in the nitro north division and Leduc (4-1) is the top team in charger north standings.
The Sabres play the Spruce Grove PAC Saints (3-2-1) at Grant Fuhr Arena today at noon. On Sunday they visit the Camrose Red Wings (2-1) at 3:15 p.m.
The next home game is Sept. 19 against the defending champion Lloydminster Heat (2-3) at 5 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
