One point separates the St. Albert Merchants and Morinville Jets for first place in the west division of the Capital Junior B Hockey League after last weekend’s results.
The Merchants (14-5) and North Edmonton Red Wings (13-4-2) are tied for top spot and the Jets (13-5-1) are a close second.
The Merchants, Red Wings and the east division-leading Fort Saskatchewan Hawks (14-6), the 2014 Founders Cup champions, also share top spot overall in the CJHL.
In games played Sunday, Ty Clelland (9-1, 3.00 GAA) recorded his first shutout as a Merchant with a 26-save performance in the 3-0 win over the Stony Plain Flyers (12-7) at Akinsdale Arena.
Mike Brown (8-4, 3.62 GAA) of the Jets turned aside a game-high 30 shots in the 5-3 victory over the Edmonton Mustangs (11-6-1) at Bill Hunter Arena.
Mike Roeleveld scored twice against the Flyers, including an empty net effort, and Blair Macuch's goal with 3:47 to play made it 2-0.
Travis Geislinger and Craig Hills connected in the third period to break a 3-3 tie against the Mustangs. Boe Geslinger, Jordan Rooke and Dylan Stang also scored for the Jets.
Rooke also collected two assists as the Jets extended their winning streak to four games.
Friday in St. Albert, the Jets doubled the Merchants 4-2 as Geslinger potted a pair, with his second deposited into an empty net. Brandon Dubuc and Brett Kampjes (power play) also lit the lamp against Ethan Maertens-Poole (5-3, 3.36 GAA).
Mitch McNamara and Zach Gonek replied for the Merchants, who suffered their first loss at home this season after seven wins.
Shots were 31-27 for the Merchants as Brown backstopped the Jets to victory.
The Merchants were tagged for 13 infractions for 45 minutes, compared to eight infractions for 16 minutes for the Jets.
The Merchants are the most penalized team in the west with 626 PIM for third overall in the 14-team circuit.
Tonight the Merchants play the Spruce Grove Regals (5-12-2) at 7:30 p.m. at Grant Fuhr Arena.
Friday the Merchants host the Red Wings and Sunday they face-off against the Edmonton Royals (13-7) at Confederation Arena. Game times are 8 p.m.
Friday the Jets’ annual alumni game starts at 8:30 p.m. at Ray McDonald Sports Centre.
Saturday the Jets entertain the Flyers at 6 p.m.
The sixth straight win for the first-place Morinville Kings in the North Central Hockey League was Saturday’s 9-1 drubbing of the Edson Ice at Ray McDonald Sports Centre.
Ryan Martin’s hat-trick and Dalen Paul’s two-goal effort spearheaded the offence as the Jets jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first period.
Joel Pelletier notched one goal and two assists and Keagan Arcand, Tim Nolte and Joshua Lafleche also tallied in the team’s third victory over the Ice (4-5).
Shots were 41-23 for the Kings as Chris Sharkey (4-0, 4.22 GAA) recorded the win in net.
Saturday the senior AA Kings (8-1) host the Westlock Warriors (5-1) at 8:30 p.m.
Five players and head coach Phil Webb will represent the St. Albert Slash at the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League all-star game Saturday at the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary.
Netminder Erynn Shantz, defenceman Megan Webb and forwards Jenna Jewell, Megan Lalor and Rachel Rochat will join Webb on Team Teal.
Last weekend, the Slash improved to 12-7-2 for third place in the 10-team standings after posting wins of 4-3 over the last-place Southeast Tigers (2-17-2) of Medicine Hat in Vauxhall and 2-1 against the Rocky Mountain Raiders (7-7-6) in DeWinton.
Lalor registered two goals and one assist, Kyrelle Skoye added one goal and two assists and Jamie Jones also scored against the Tigers. Shots were 29-16 for the Slash and Shantz was in net.
Jones and Rochat found the back of the net against the Raiders, who outshot the Slash 31-27. Shantz (8-3-2, 1.19 GAA) was between the pipes.
In the league-scoring race, Lalor ranks second in goals with 14 and in points with 21 in 18 games.
The Slash have five games remaining before the Mac’s tournament starts Dec. 26 in Calgary. The Slash won the Mac’s Cup in 2009.
