Blair Macuch’s sixth goal of the season with 4:54 remaining in regulation time was Sunday’s game winner for the St. Albert Merchants against the Morinville Jets in the Capital Junior B Hockey League.
Jordan MacPhee and A.J. Yariwon assisted on Macuch’s fourth point of the night in the 6-5 victory at Ray McDonald Sports Centre.
Yariwon also recorded four points. His goal with 9:20 left in period two tied it at four.
In the opening frame the Merchants outshot the Jets 18-12 but trailed 3-2. Josh Jewell and Dan Rombough (power play) banked goals for the Money Men and Travis Geislinger, Justin Proulx and Lee Gadoury replied for the Jets.
In the middle stanza, Proulx’s marker was followed by Mitch McNamara’s unassisted effort for the visitors.
Before the period ended, Tyler Hagel put the home team back on top at 5-4.
MacPhee (power play) scored the equalizer halfway through the third, with assists going to Yariwon and Macuch.
Shots overall were 43-30 for the Merchants. Max Cathcart (3-2, 2.81 GAA) gave up three goals on seven shots in nine minutes before replaced by Justin Pawlenchuk (9-1, 2.69 GAA).
The Jets’ goalie was Mike Brown (5-7, 5.04 GAA).
Both teams were missing players because of suspensions: Stefan Meunier (one game) and Karmen Ward (first of four games, match penalty for check to head) for the Merchants and Jared Hills (one game) and Riley Van Brabant (one game) for the Jets (5-8-1).
The Merchants (12-2-1) were coming off their worst loss of the season, 6-2 to the Fort Saskatchewan Hawks (11-4) Friday in the Fort.
It was 3-0 for the Hawks before Taylor Wiebe (power play) scored with 4:53 to go in period one.
Brent McGugan (power play) pulled the Merchants to within one in the second, but the Hawks replied with three goals with the man advantage to round out the scoring.
The teams combined for 127 penalty minutes, led by the Merchants’ 84 PIM on 21 infractions.
Pawlenchuk took the loss in net.
The Merchants kick off a four-game homestand Friday against the Spruce Grove Regals (6-9) and Sunday they host the Stony Plain Flyers (7-7-1). Start times are 8 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
The next home game for the Jets is Sunday versus the Beverly Warriors (9-6) at 6:45 p.m.
The Jets and the Merchants hook up Nov. 29 at 8:30 p.m. in Morinville.
The St. Albert Raiders are winless in three straight and 1-4-1 in their last six games after losing 6-4 to the UFA Bisons in midget AAA action Sunday at Akinsdale Arena.
The Raiders (6-6-2) fell behind 2-0 after one period and trailed 5-2 after two periods. The last UFA (9-6) goal was deposited into an empty net.
Ethan Lazaro, Harrison Klein, Parker AuCoin and Matt McNeil scored and Pat Gora (four GA on 20 shots) and Pat Dea shared netminding duties.
The day before the Southside Athletic Club (7-3-3) edged the Raiders 2-1 at Bill Hunter Arena.
Brendan Kallis tied it at one early in the third and the Southside notched the game winner with 10:50 remaining.
The Raiders were outshot 41-34 and Dea was in net.
This weekend the Raiders travel to Calgary to play the Northstars (1-10-3) Saturday and the Flames (3-8-3) Sunday.
All the scoring took place in the first period. The Sabres’ marksmen were Evan Haimila, Liam Peyton and Bret Mossing. Josh Antunes and Aidan Steinke picked up two assists apiece.
Shots were 25-20 against KC (0-12-1). In net was Nate Reinhart.
The win lifted the Sabres to within two points of the third-place Sherwood Park Flyers (7-6-1) in the nitro north division.
Up next for the Sabres is the Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds Tournament this weekend.
