AA Braves earn weekend split
Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter
The Wheatland Braves salvaged the weekend and ended a mini four-game slide with a 5-3 trimming of the 8-13-3 Foothills Bisons Jan. 29 at Blackie Arena.
Tied 2-2 heading into the third, the Braves pulled into the fast lane and hit the gas, as they improve to 6-17-2 on the South Central Alberta Hockey League season.
Josh Alberda and Nolan Bell netted the first two, then Clye Clayton kick-started the third period barrage on the power play from Cole Tweit and Cart Golsing. Cole Whelan and Ryder Many Grey Horses scored goals within a minute of each other to wrap up the Braves sixth win of the season. Rhett Harten blocked 35 shots, as his record improves to 5-8 this year.
Two nights earlier, the Braves fell by the same score, 5-3, to the first place Medicine Hat Hounds (16-4-4) at Hussar Arena.
The Hounds led 4-0 deep into the third before the Braves were able to kick things into gear.
Philip Raycroft, Nolan Mahussier and Alberda rippled the twine, as Tate Yule and Bell racked up a pair of assists each.
The Braves are back in action Feb. 5 (4:15 p.m.) when they host the Airdrie Lightning White (8-16-2) at the Strathmore Family Centre.
Chiefs keep rolling
The Wheatland Chiefs racked up a pair of dubs away from Strathmore over the weekend.
First, they disposed of the 9-13-4 Okotoks Oilers Green 6-2 Jan. 29 at Murray Arena.
Robert Butterwick and Riley Romashenko both finished with one goal and two helpers, while Kelton Travis and Chayse Hnatowich recorded a goal and an assist each. Other snipes came from Isaac Benoit and Brady Skiffington. In net, Riley Stovka was leaned on to make 24 saves.
Playing at the Nexsource Centre in Sylvan Lake Jan. 27, Chiefs doubled up on the North division-leading West Central Young Gun Tigers 4-2.
Lucas Muenchrath, Wacy Sandum, Adiran Kusu and Hnatowich supplied singles, while Zachary Suntjens, Tyler Skehar, Kale Clouston and Benoit added assists. The Tigers dropped to 17-9-2.
The Chiefs (24-2-2) return to the Strathmore Family Centre when they host the second place Medicine Hat Hounds (19-4-4) Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.
Warriors fall
The Red Deer Steel Kings doubled up on the Wheatland Warriors 6-3
Jan. 28 at the Kinex Arena in Red Deer.
Max Schafer took eight penalties for the Warriors, racking up 26 minutes all by his lonesome.
An issue for any team, the Steel Kings (8-14-3) poured salt into the wound by capitalizing with four powerplay markers.
Trailing 2-0 in the second stanza, Zach Nicholls popped in his fourth from Kegan Law at the 11:02 mark.
Adam Kirkpatrick sniped a pair of goals in the third.
The Warriors (9-15-2) take on the Medicine Hat Hounds (8-14-2) Feb. 4 at the Moose Recreation Centre.