HJHL Roundup: December 7

A pair of shootout thrillers highlighted a busy six-game Friday evening across the Heritage Junior Hockey League.

Red Deer Vipers (4) – Stettler Lightning (3)

STETTLER – It was the Red Deer Vipers that prevailed with a 4-3 win over the Stettler Lightning in a shootout on Friday evening, extending their winning streak to 11 games.

All six goals in regulation were scored in the third period as Keaton Sawicki scored twice for the Vipers (16-5-1), while Khale Skinner added a single.

Kieran Rost, Tye Mulgrove and Ethan Rost replied for the Lightning (10-9-3), which got a 28-save effort from Davin Nattestad between the pipes.

After overtime solved nothing, Skinner and Justin Pearup each found the back of the net for Red Deer, while netminder Justin Anderson turned aside all three shootout attempts he faced, along with 25 saves in regulation and overtime.

GAME SUMMARY

Strathmore Wheatland Kings (7) – High River Flyers (6)

HIGH RIVER – Bailey Filkohazy was the shootout hero as the Strathmore Wheatland Kings were 7-6 winners over the High River Flyers in a Friday night classic.

The Flyers (9-14-3) kept battling back from deficits as they tied the game at three, four, five and then 6-6 with 4:21 left in the third period.

Isaac Benoit led the way for the Wheatland Kings (12-10-2) with three goals and one assist, while Garret Vander Ploeg recorded two goals and setup two more. Eric Sandum rounded out the Strathmore scoring.

Jakob Jeffries had two goals for High River, while Tyler Alger and Nic Kennedy each had a goal and two helpers.

Michael McTighe and Josh Russo each added a single to the Flyers’ scoreboard, while goaltender Chantz Vinck finished with 48 saves in the loss.

Riley Stovka registered the win in the Strathmore crease, stopping 32 shots along the way.

GAME SUMMARY

Okotoks Bisons (5) – Cochrane Generals (2)

OKOTOKS – Jason Horn had a pair of goals as the Okotoks Bisons skated to a 5-2 win over the Cochrane Generals on Friday.

Jagger Thiessen finished with one goal and two assists to lead all skaters with three points, while Connor Taylor and Brandt Black rounded out the Okotoks (17-3-2) attack.

Trailing 4-0 entering the third period, Vance Wesley and Caden Chudleigh each found the back of the net for Cochrane (12-7-2), cutting the deficit to just two, but that’s as close as they would come.

Devin Reagan made 30 saves in the victory for Okotoks, earning his 11th win of the season.

GAME SUMMARY

Airdrie Thunder (7) – Mountainview Colts (3)

AIRDRIE – Two goals and one assist off the stick of Tristan Paquette propelled the Airdrie Thunder to a 7-3 win over the Mountainview Colts.

Brett LeGrandeur, Dane Bennett-Nimijean, Tyler Petrie, Brett Campbell and Cooper Page each added a single for the Thunder (23-2-0), while goaltender Ryan Simpson was solid between the pipes, stopping 36-of-39 shots faced to earn win number 12 on the season.

Quintin Thorburn and Josh Gette had the goals for the Colts (12-8-1), which got 40 saves from netminder Ethan Woodward.

GAME SUMMARY

Blackfalds Wranglers (6) – Lomond Lakers (2)

BASSANO – Bronson Spearing and Brett Westin each scored twice as the Blackfalds Wranglers handed the Lomond Lakers a 6-2 loss.

Lane Brann made 39 saves in the Wranglers (7-8-5), while Beaudon Rider and Dayton Playford each added a single to round out the scoring.

Kirk Fraser scored both goals for the Lakers (5-19-0), which have now lost nine straight.

Brady Newton made 33 saves in the loss.

GAME SUMMARY

Coaldale Copperheads (14) – Three Hills Thrashers (1)

THREE HILLS – Brandyn Howg had six points as the Coaldale Copperheads skated to their seventh straight victory as they defeated the Three Hills Thrashers by a 14-1 score on Friday.

Howg finished with three goals and three assists, while teammate Jedd Horvath also netted a hat trick, as he finished with three goals and one assist.

Jared Bainbridge and Jayden Bexte each found the back of the net twice for the Copperheads (19-3-2), while Tyler Anderson had a four-point night, scoring once and setting up three others.

Jayden Smith, Brant Mack and Tyler Strath rounded out the scoring, while Broc Merkl made 26 saves in the victory.

Cale Severtson had the lone goal of the game for the Thrashers (1-20-1).

GAME SUMMARY