Warriors knock off top seed from the North

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

The Wheatland Warriors are hotter than a pistol and playing the best hockey of their season as the year winds down.
Taking on the North Division-leading West Central Tigers, the Warriors picked up the decisive 5-2 decision Feb. 11 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
After a scoreless first period, the local double-A bantam team got things going with goals from Jerrin Hendricks and Bryce Benfield.
“That’s the kind of effort we were looking for going into a game against them,” said Warriors Head Coach Cody Brown. “With only one game on the weekend, we should have been rested enough to have a strong start and we were able to pull that off.”
The Tigers (21-7-3) pushed back with three of their own goals, but the Warriors were able to respond when Alex Pagenkopf netted his second goal of the season with 15 seconds remaining in the frame.
“They’re the top team in the league as far as I am concerned,” said Brown. “At this point of the season it was great to see how we stack up against a team like that. We proved to ourselves that we have a chance to knock off any team in this league.”
Putting a lid on things was Ray Warrack 56 seconds into the third, and Brayden Ledrew picked up the empty-netter for his second point on the afternoon.
Between the pipes, Corey Ross stopped 29 shots to earn his eighth win of the season, as the Warriors (13-14-2) have picked up victories in three straight and in five of their last six outings.
Aiming to keep the good times going, the Warriors will take on the Medicine Hat Hounds (8-19-3) Feb. 17 at the Moose Recreation Centre.

Chiefs win in hussar
The Wheatland Chiefs (17-9-2) are beginning to feel at home at Hussar Arena, as they picked up their second win in as many games at their transported home base.
Taking on the lowly Central Alberta Selects, the local double-A midget team pulled out the 3-2 victory Feb. 10 in the late stages of the third period.
Jaycob Masciangelo wired a shot past Jared Lee with 2:29 remaining in regulation, as Cole Berg and Bailey Filkohazy picked up assists.
The Selects (5-21-2) jumped on the Chiefs 1:41 into the first only to see Chiefs captain Lucas Muenchrath and Jayden Hendricks responded with a pair of goals in the second period to grab their first lead of the game.
This weekend, the Chiefs will host the NWCAA Bruins (6-4-0) Feb. 17 at the Strathmore Family Centre. Puck drop is 4:45 p.m.

Braves battle
The Wheatland Braves ran into a buzz saw down at the Adams Ice Centre in Lethbridge, as they fell 6-1 Feb. 11 at the hands of the Lethbridge Hurricanes White.
Down 5-0 at the 8:34 mark of the third, Jace Koole netted his 12th of the season for the Braves from Conner Radke and Tyson Haslund.
The local double-A peewee team will be out of action this weekend and will resume South Central Alberta Hockey League play Feb. 25 when they take on the Okotoks Oilers Green at Murray Arena.