Sharks at home
The St. Albert Sharks return to action Friday after a break in the Alberta Female Hockey League.Faceoff is 8:15 p.m. against the Peace Country Storm (8-7) at Go Auto Arena.
The Sharks are No. 1 overall in the midget elite league as the top north division team with nine games remaining until the AFHL provincials.
The last game for the Sharks (15-2, 48 GF/20 GA) was the 1-0 loss to the Sherwood Park Fury (12-6) Jan. 14 in St. Albert.
The Sharks are led offensively by Brooklyn Schroeder’s seven goals and Annika Neset’s 16 points.
Holly Borrett (9-0, 1.14 GAA) and Cecelia Michelutti (6-2, 1.22 GAA) are ranked first and third, respectively, in goals-against average.
Both netminders, as well as Schroeder, defenceman Emma Sundar and forward Kylie Foisy, were selected to play in the AFHL all-star game Feb. 3 at NAIT Arena.
Crusaders action
The St. Albert Source for Sports Crusaders resume their midget AA schedule this weekend in the Northern Alberta Midget AA Hockey League.The Crusaders host the Sturgeon Sting (3-17-1) Friday at 8 p.m. at Go Auto Arena and Saturday’s game against the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (3-17-3) starts at 12:15 p.m. at JRC Arena.
The Crusaders (13-5-2) and Sherwood Park Oilers (12-7-4) are tied for second in the Besa division of the Metro conference.
The 2017 NAHL playoff finalists are winners of three in a row after the 5-2 decision against SSAC Don Wheaton (7-15-3) Jan. 13 in St. Albert.
Ryan Deets leads the Crusaders in goals with 14 and is second in points with 26. Logan McKinley is the top point producer with 27.
Shane Zilka (8-2, 1.57 GAA) is the NAMHL co-leader in shutouts with four.
Merchants game
The second-last home game for the St. Albert Merchants before the Capital Junior B Hockey League playoffs is Sunday against the Stony Plain Flyers.Puck drop is 8 p.m. at Akinsdale.
The Merchants are 7-9-1 on home ice after Sunday’s 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Mustangs.
Two of the three power-play goals by the Mustangs were scored during a four-goal run in the second period after Connor Tupala tied at one for the Merchants.
Shots were 37-36 for the Merchants as Brandon Boughen (five goals against on 28 shots) and Ethan Crotty (eight saves in 20 minutes played) shared netminding duties.
In the west division, the fourth-place Merchants (17-4-1) were four points ahead of the Flyers and six in front of the Mustangs (13-17-3) before Tuesday’s tilt against the host Beaumont Chiefs (22-9-3). The score was unavailable at press time.
