The St. Albert Merchants banked their ninth win in 12 games in Sunday’s 4-3 come-from-behind decision against the Spruce Grove Regals at Akinsdale Arena.
Down 3-1 in period three, goals by Matt Bowles (third), Kyle Beddows (ninth) and Jake Behiels (23rd) rallied the Merchants to victory. The game winner by Behiels was scored with 4:11 remaining.
Alex Hawriko opened the scoring in period two on the power play. The Regals also capitalized twice with the man advantage before the period ended.
Beddows and Chris Clark added two assists apiece. In net was Justin Pawlenchuk (7-3, 3.70 GAA).
The weekend started with Friday’s 3-0 loss in Beaumont against the east division-leading Chiefs (19-6-0-1). They scored once shorthanded and twice on the power play.
In the west division the Merchants (14-11), Regals (13-8-0-2) and Morinville Jets (12-9-0-4) are deadlocked in third spot, four points back of the second-place North Edmonton Red Wings (15-8-0-2).
The last game for the Merchants before the Christmas break is Sunday against the last-place Stony Plain Flyers (1-22-0-2). Faceoff is 8 p.m. at Akinsdale.
When the Merchants resume league play Jan. 2, they have 12 games scheduled before the playoffs start.
Emily Mitchell stopped 26 shots while posting her fourth shutout of the season in Saturday’s 3-0 win by the St. Albert Slash against the Medicine Hat Hounds at Performance Arena.
The shutout was also the seventh in 21 games for the Slash (15-3-3), ranked second in the north division behind the Edmonton Thunder (19-0-3), the top team in the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League. The Hounds (12-6-4) are third in the south.
Krystal Reithmayer (ninth), Jessica Kampjes (18th) and Sabrina Flemming (seventh) scored in support of Mitchell (8-3-1, 2.15 GAA). The Slash directed 39 shots at netminder Samantha Rupp.
Tonight at 8:30 p.m. the Slash host the Sherwood Park Fury (7-16) at Performance. Their last game before the Mac’s tournament in Calgary is Saturday against the visiting Spruce Grove PAC Saints (6-16) at 2:15 p.m. The Slash are the defending Mac’s champions, as well as the host team for the 2011 Esso Cup national championship, April 17 to 23 at Servus Credit Union Place.
Paul Lovsin’s hat-trick highlighted a five-goal outburst in the opening period by the St. Albert Sabres in Saturday’s 6-2 road win against the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers.
Lovsin’s scoring exploits gave him 10 goals in 19 games. He also picked up an assist for his 22nd point.
Tyler Mrkonjic (eighth) and Matteo Gennaro (fifth) also tallied in the period and Michael Buchamer (fourth) scored in period two. Brett Smythe and Michael Bruni chipped in with two assists apiece. Smythe leads the team in points with 29 in 19 games.
Shots were 38-19 against the Rangers (6-11-4). In net was Patrick Dea (5-2-1, 2.30 GAA).
The victory was the eighth in nine games for the Sabres (11-5-3), ranked second in their division behind the SSAC Southgate Lions (13-3-3) in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
Tonight the Sabres host the Canadian Athletic Club (8-10-2) at 7:45 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena. They close out the December portion of their schedule Sunday at home against the Grande Prairie Storm (3-18) at noon and Tuesday against the Maple Leafs (5-12-4) at 7:45 p.m. at Coronation Arena.
Meanwhile, the line-up of teams has been finalized for the John Reid Memorial Tournament, Jan. 20 to 23 at Servus Credit Union Place. They are the Airdrie Xtreme, Burnaby Winter Club, Calgary Bisons, Calgary Royals, Kamloops Blazers, Kelowna Pursuit of Excellence Academy, Leduc Oil Kings, Notre Dame Hounds, Phoenix Jr. Coyotes, Red Deer Rebels White, Seafair Islanders, Spruce Grove PAC Saints, Winnipeg Hawks, SSAC and the Sabres.
It’s the 33rd year for the St. Albert bantam AAA tournament. The annual event is heavily attended by Western Hockey League teams. Last year the Los Angeles Selects edged Burnaby 3-2 in the final.
The tournament website is www.johnreidmemorial.com.
Volunteers are also needed for all positions. For more information, call Trudy at 780-458-8725.
After a break in the schedule, the bantam AAA female St. Albert Raiders resume league play Saturday against the Edmonton Lightning. Puck drop is 8:30 p.m. at Performance Arena.
The Lightning (10-4-1) and Raiders (8-5-4) are first and second, respectively, in the north division. The Lightning also have two games in hand.
The last game in 2010 for the Raiders is Tuesday against the Sherwood Park Royals (1-14-3) at 8:45 p.m. at Performance.
The top-scoring Raider is MacKenzie Koep with five goals and nine assists. Eva Lovsin is second on the team with 10 goals and two assists.
Sarah Murray (8-5-4, 2.26 GAA) has been a workhorse in net with 1,020 minutes played in 17 games. Her three shutouts are also tied for the league lead.
