Junior B update Robert Putt and Andy Barr scored and Ethan Crotty stopped a game-high 28 shots as the St. Albert Merchants edged the Morinville Jets 2-1 Saturday in the Capital Junior B Hockey League. The only goal against Crotty (8-6, 3.
Junior B update
Robert Putt and Andy Barr scored and Ethan Crotty stopped a game-high 28 shots as the St. Albert Merchants edged the Morinville Jets 2-1 Saturday in the Capital Junior B Hockey League.
The only goal against Crotty (8-6, 3.48 GAA) was Brett Dubuc's 21
st of the season 7:46 into the contest at Ray McDonald Sports Centre.
Dubuc is the CJHL’s co-leader in goals and is tied for ninth in points with 33
in 17 games.
Putt’s unassisted effort to even the count with 1:38 left in the middle frame was his third in 17 games.
Barr’s sixth goal, with Mark Matsuba drawing the assist, was the winner with 47 seconds remaining in regulation time.
Shots were 7-2 in the third and 29-13 overall for the Jets as Colton Kucher (5-2, 1.55 GAA) drew the start for the home team.
The Merchants (11-8) recorded their third win in four games without two of their top three scorers – Matt Havens (26 points) and Brenden Passek (19 points) – in the lineup.
On tap for The Blue Guys are the Beverley Warriors (15-3) Friday at Akinsdale Arena and the Edmonton Mustangs (4-10-3) Sunday at Bill Hunter Arena. Game times are 8 p.m.
The Jets (10-6-1), 2-2 in their last four games, are back on the ice tonight against the Edmonton Royals (10-8-1) at 8 p.m. at Coronation Arena and Friday’s home game against the Spruce Grove Regals (1-14-2) starts at 8:30 p.m.
Raiders roaring
The St. Albert Tire Warehouse Raiders are on the rise in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League.
The north division co-leaders are undefeated in four games after sweeping last weekend's road trip against south division teams.
The Raiders and KC Pats share top spot in the north with identical 8-7-1 records after posting wins of 6-1 against the Okotoks Oilers (8-5-3) and 3-1 against the Calgary Royals (10-3-3).
Jacob Hiemstra tallied twice and Zach Carlson (power play), Jacob Charko, Stuart Dovey and Carson Henry also scored against Okotoks.
Erik Boers, Xavier Halterman and Blake Sydlowski picked up two assists apiece.
Shots were 41-31 for the Sabres and Mitch Reidy (6-3, 1.94 GAA) was in net.
Evan Fradette (2-4-1, 1.95 GAA) stopped a game-high 29 shots against the Royals, the same team the Raiders battled to a scoreless draw the weekend before in St. Albert with Fradette credited with 31 saves for the team’s second shutout in two days after Reidy faced shots in the 4-0 stoning of the visiting Lloydminster Bobcats (3-11-2).
The Raiders are the No. 1 defensive team in the north with 2.06 goals against per game.
Brady Nicholas, Austin Spiridakis and Carlson potted goals in Calgary as the Raiders improved to 3-2-1 in November.
The Raiders host the AMHL champion Leduc Oil Kings (4-8-4) Saturday at 1:45 p.m. and the Calgary Buffaloes (13-2-1) at 1:15 p.m. Sunday at Akinsdale Arena.
Sharp Sabres
The St. Albert Gregg Distributors skate into the Winnipeg Jets AAA Classic undefeated in six games in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
The Sabres (11-2-1) start the eight-team tournament Friday against the Winnipeg Warriors and Winnipeg Sharks and the team's last pool game is Saturday against the Southwest Cougars.
CAC Lehigh Cement (8-6), tied for third behind the Sabres in the nitro north standings, will play the Minot Wolves, Winnipeg Hawks and Winnipeg Monarchs.
Visit
www.thewjhl.com for the schedule and results.
The fourth win in a row for the Sabres was 6-1 against the Maple Leafs (1-14-1) Sunday at Millwoods Arena.
Dylan Leslie, Palmer Strang and Ethan Sundar on the power play and Chase Visser, Zachry Desranleau and Tyson Greenway at even strength lit the lamp.
Graeme Hampton chipped in with three assists and Visser had two helpers.
Carson Ironside (3-2-2, 2.24 GAA) faced 16 shots while the Sabres were credited with 44 shots.
The Sabres were coming off a 3-2 result against CAC on Friday as Sundar sniped the only goal in the third period.
Evan Arnold and Strang also connected in support of Matt Tebbutt (8-0-1, 2.15 GAA) as the Sabres outshot CAC 31-25.
Slash in first
The St. Albert Slash are back on top in the midget AAA division of the Alberta Female Hockey League.
The Slash (10-3) regained the division lead from the Rocky Mountain Raiders (9-4-1) in Sunday’s 3-2 win in Dewinton.
Vanessa Verbitsky and Jayme Doyle opened the scoring in the first period and Madison Willan snapped a 2-2 tie with her team-leading fifth goal and 11th point with 11 seconds left in the second.
Caleigh Meraw added two assists as the Slash notched their fourth win in five games and the last loss was 3-2 against the Raiders on Nov. 10 in St. Albert.
The Slash edged the Raiders in shots 30-29 and Camryn Drever (4-2, 2.01 GAA) was between the pipes.
The 2017 Esso Cup national champions visit the Red Deer Chiefs (6-2-3) Saturday at 2:45 p.m. and Sunday’s game against the Edmonton Pandas (0-11-1) starts at 2:15 p.m. at Bill Hunter Arena.
Flyers win again
The St. Albert Flyers maintained their grip on first place in the north division in Saturday’s win in the Alberta Minor Midget AAA Hockey League.
Maddux Nollski, Ethan McKinley and Tye Pedersen (power play) scored in the 3-1 decision against the Camrose Red Wings (3-8-4) at Akinsdale Arena.
Shots were 34-15 for the Flyers and Ethan Barwick (6-2, 2.52 GAA) was in net.
The Flyers (9-3-2) are tied for third overall in the 25-team AMMHL after the midget 15 team’s third consecutive victory while going 4-1-1 on home ice.
This weekend the Flyers travel to play the SEAC Tigers (2-10-1) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Brooks and Lethbridge Hurricanes (11-2), the top team in the south, at 2:45 p.m. Sunday.
