Chiefs nuke Red Deer
Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter
The Wheatland Chiefs delivered the perfect birthday gift to assistant coach Matt Gregory in the form of a convincing win.
The local double-A midget team blitzed the Red Deer CanPro 9-1 during South Central Alberta Hockey League play Jan. 21 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
For the division-leading Chiefs, it was the fourth time they scored at least nine goals in a single game this season.
“It’s a lot of fun for the coaches,” Chiefs head coach Evan Barlow said, when asked what it was like to work with such a talented bunch. “For us, we are just trying to get them to play the right way as we get them ready for the next level. By playing the right way, we have gotten a lot of production out of them.”
The 22-2-2 Chiefs led 5-0 into the second before Red Deer (7-15-4) got on board. Robert Butterwick, Isaac Benoit and Chayse Hnatowich all recorded a pair of goals. Butterwick added three helpers to finish with five points.
Benoit continues to have a firm grasp on the league scoring lead. He also made his debut with the Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Junior Hockey League Jan. 14 when they took on the Olds Grizzlys at the Olds Sportsplex. He didn’t record a point in his debut.
“It was a fast-paced, fun game to play in. That’s definitely where I am aiming to play next year,” said Benoit.
Zachary Suntjens, Adrian Kusu and Jared Kirkpatrick added singles in the Chiefs win, while Ty Tarvyd stopped 18 shots in net for his 10th win.
The amount of paperwork needing to be sorted out following the Chiefs 7-4 victory over the Taber Golden Suns Jan. 22 at the Taber Community Centre stands roughly 10 feet high.
The two teams combined for 133 penalty minutes, including 93 of them tallied in the third period.
Riley Romashenko and Benoit led the Chiefs with a pair of goals each, while Kale Clouston, Wacy Sandum and Ryan Bell each popped one in. In net, Riley Stovka was required to make 15 saves in order to pick up his 10th win.
The Chiefs take on the West Central Young Guns Tigers (17-8-1) Jan. 27 at the Nexsource Centre in Sylvan Lake.
HURRICANES STORM WARRIORS EARLY
A much calmer affair saw the Wheatland Warriors fall 7-4 to the Lethbridge Hurricanes Jan. 22 at the Adams Ice Centre.
The Hurricanes (12-8-4) jumped out to a 3-0 lead following the first, before Kage Yellowfly netted back-to-back snipes in the second. He leads the team with 14 goals and 24 points.
Trailing 6-2, Nolan Bailey and Cole Walker found their way onto the score sheet as the Warriors (9-14-2) dropped their fourth-straight match.
The local double-A bantam team will travel to Kinex Arena in Red Deer to take on the Steel Kings (7-13-3) Jan. 28. Their next home game goes Feb. 10 when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes (12-8-4).
BRAVES BEATEN LATE
The local Wheatland Braves leading scorer gave his team the lead on a penalty shot with 2:26 to go in the third, only to see the Central Alberta Selects storm back in the final minutes.
The Selects trimmed the local double-A peewee team 4-3 Jan. 22 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
After a scoreless first, Nolan Mahussier netted his 11th on the year from Philip Raycroft and Clye Clayton. Adam Moore added his second on the campaign from Wyatt Yule and Clayton in the third. Matthew Dovichak turned away 21 shots between the pipes.
The Selects improved to 2-19-4.
The Braves (5-16-2) next game is Jan. 27 (7:30 p.m.) at Hussar Arena when they host the Medicine Hat Hounds (14-4-4).