The post New Year’s Eve fireworks between the St. Albert Merchants and Morinville Jets starts 8 p.m. Friday at Akinsdale Arena.
Head-to-head this season the Merchants won 7-6 in a shootout in St. Albert and the Jets were victorious 8-1 and 6-5 in overtime in Morinville.
Twelve points separate the first-place Jets (19-5-4) and fourth-place Merchants (13-10-4) in the Capital Junior B Hockey League’s west standings.
In December the Merchants’ record was 2-1-3 and the Jets were 5-1 while going 15-2 in their last 17 games.
Sunday the Merchants host the Fort Saskatchewan Hawks (16-8-3) at 8 p.m. and the Jets entertain the defending Founders Cup playoff champion North Edmonton Red Wings (18-7-2) at 6:45 p.m. at Ray McDonald Sports Centre.
The St. Albert Royals host the PAC Saints of Spruce Grove tonight in the Rural & Edmonton Midget 15AA Hockey League.
Puck drop is 7:45 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
The Royals (11-5-3) and Saints (9-8-1) are third and fourth, respectively, in the nine-team standings.
The Royals are two points back of second place after a 4-0-2 run in December.
Caleb Caines is tied for fourth in league scoring with 24 points and is the team leader in goals with 16 in 18 games.
Evan Hergott (5-4-1, 2.11 GAA, two shutouts) and Josh Ironside (6-1-2, 2.22 GAA, one shutout) are third and fifth in goals-against average.
The midget AAA St. Albert Slash play three games in three days, starting Friday at home in the Alberta Female Hockey League.
The Slash (15-0-1) and Calgary Fire (6-9-1) face-off at 8 p.m. and Saturday the teams skate again at Go Auto Arena at 2:15 p.m.
Sunday’s contest against the Lloydminster Steelers (9-8-1) starts at 3:30 p.m. in the Border City.
Madison Willan of Edmonton is tied for first in the league scoring race with 24 points in 16 games and Cassidy Maplethorpe of Wetaskiwin is third with 23 points.
Willan also shares third place in goals with 13, one more than Maplethorpe.
Brianna Sank of Ardrossan (7-0-1, (1.22 GAA) is first in goals-against average and shutouts with three.
Camryn Drever of Edmonton (8-0, 1.50 GAA) ranks first in wins.
Local players on the Slash are forwards Isabelle Lajoie of St. Albert, Makenna Schuttler of Sturgeon County, Jayme Doyle of Calahoo, and Mackenzie Reynolds of Gibbons.
