Junior B games
The St. Albert Merchants and Morinville Jets are back in action after the Christmas break this weekend in the Capital Junior B Hockey League.
Both teams host the Strathcona Bruins (9-17-2) and game times are at 8 p.m. Friday for the Merchants at Jarome Iginla Arena and 7:30 p.m. Sunday for the Jets at Landrex Arena.
In the west division, the Merchants (16-12, 133 GF/129 GA) and Jets (10-18, 89 GF/121 GA) are third and fifth, respectively, with 10 games remaining before the playoffs.
Ryan Cooper of the Merchants is fifth in the CJHL scoring race with 46 points in 23 games and is the team leader in goals with 20.
Josh Mcrae is the top scorer on the Jets with 18 goals and 36 points in 28 games.
Midget AA games
The St. Albert teams in the Northern Alberta Midget AA Hockey League have games scheduled this weekend at Mark Messier Arena.
Friday the first-place Source for Sports Crusaders (17-1-1, 114 GF/50 GA) play the Leduc Roughnecks (3-16) at 8:45 p.m. and Saturday’s faceoff time is 8:30 p.m. for the Steel (13-3-1, 82 GF/51 GA) against the GPAC Storm (11-7-1).
Sunday the Steel and PAC Saints (8-8-2) meet at 7:45 p.m. at Glenn Hall Centennial Arena.
The Steel’s six-game winning streak includes the 6-4 decision against the Crusaders on Dec. 14 to end a run of 12 consecutive victories for the defending Playoff Cup champions.
Last Saturday’s game between the Crusaders and Lloydminster Blazers (7-10-2) at Go Auto Arena was postponed.
Slash at home
The St. Albert Slash ring in the new year Saturday in the Alberta Female Hockey League.
Faceoff is 2:15 p.m. against the Rocky Mountain Raiders (8-6-3) at Go Auto Arena.
The Slash 15-1-1 (52 GF/16 GA) record consists of 13 wins in regulation time, including seven shutout decisions, one overtime win, one shootout win, 1-0 shootout loss to Lloydminster on Nov. 24 in the Border City and 2-1 loss to the host Red Deer Chiefs (2-14-1) Dec. 15 in the last game before the Christmas break.
The Esso Cup midget AAA champions the last three years have 11 players back from the 36-5-2 team that three-peated at the Final Frozen Four provincials, Pacific Region national qualifier against the Greater Vancouver Comets and Esso Cup.
