The fifth shutout of the season for the St. Albert Gregg Distributors Sabres was recorded Tuesday in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
Kyle Nelson faced 12 shots as the Sabres improved to a league-best 23-1-1 in the 2-0 win over the SSAC Southgate Lions (3-19-4) at Akinsdale Arena.
The shutout was the second in as many starts for Nelson (13-0-1, 1.94 GAA) in the team's last three games.
Matt Savoie potted a pair as the Sabres were credited with 45 shots on net, including a 20-5 margin in the opening period.
Savoie struck on the power play in the first, with Ethan Leyer and Ethan Whillans drawing assists, and the unassisted shorthanded effort in the second was his team-high 27th goal in 25 games for 46 points.
The victory was the fifth in a row after the 5-0 loss to the Calgary Flames (10-9-6) Dec. 11 in St. Albert.
The Sabres have four games remaining before hosting the John Reid Memorial Tournament. They play twice on the road – today against the Leduc Oil Kings (6-16-4) at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday against the KC Squires (11-6-7) at Castledowns Arena – and at home Thursday against the Camrose Red Wings (14-4-5) at 7 p.m. and Jan. 15 against CAC Inland Cement (7-11-4) at 5 p.m.
The 39th annual St. Albert bantam AAA tournament is Jan. 19 to 22 at Servus Credit Union Place.
Visit www.johnreidmemorial.com for more information.
The St. Albert Royals are unbeaten in seven games after Wednesday's shutout in the Rural & Edmonton Midget 15AA Hockey League.
Josh Ironside stopped 19 shots and Hayden Laporte notched one goal and two assists in the 5-0 decision over the PAC Saints (9-9-1) of Spruce Grove at Akinsdale Arena.
The Royals racked up 47 shots as Dawson Laycock, Matthew Danks, Cam Thomas and Connor Kroetsch scored and Preston Leung added two assists.
Ironside (7-1-2, 2.00 GAA) registered his second shutout and the team's fourth of the season.
The Royals (12-5-3) are now tied for second with SSAC Dolce Vita Homes (13-4-1) in the nine-team standings after their third consecutive victory during a 5-0-2 run.
Monday the Royals face-off against CAC Kingsway Toyota (0-16-2) at 8:15 p.m. at Callingwood Twin Arenas.
Meanwhile, representing the Royals in today's REMHL all-star game is Laporte and Caleb Cains as forwards, Kroetsch and Liam Dube on defence and netminder Evan Hergott with the visiting team.
Start time is 3:45 p.m. at Ardrossan Recreation Complex.
