The Ponoka Junior B Stampeders hockey team posted their first win of the season before facing a couple of tough opponents to cap off the month.
On Saturday, Nov. 23, the Stamps braved the road conditions and it paid off, getting them a taste of victory with a 5-2 triumph over the Coaldale Copperheads.
"The coaches are very proud of the Saturday effort and even more happy to have the Stamps realize how effective they can be and the results that can come from consistency," said head coach Trevor Sigfusson.
While the team lost three players earlier in the week who had decided to pursue other opportunities, they picked up two new Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) rookies - Rylan Hansen donning the number eight jersey and Ryker Matheson, number 12 - who Sigffuson said made a difference in the game.
"Rylan made some thunderous hits and played a spirited game on the point for the Stamps. Ryker was fighting a bad cold but gave all he was able to and got his first HJHL goal in his first game."
Period one ended in a shutout for both teams. In the second period, the Stamps found the back of the Copperhead's net three times, still holding the other team to zero goals.
Scorers were No. 15 Brendan Harnack, No. 16 Jacob Mayer and Matheson.
The Copperheads sunk their teeth in, gaining two goals in the third period but the Stamps got two of their own.
Scoring for the Stamps were Harnack again, hot off of the buzzer, and No.18 Nathan Bernhardt.
Goalie No. 31, Jaxon Smaltz, was named Player of the Week.
The next game on Sunday, Nov. 24 in Medicine Hat didn't go as planned, leaving the Stamps with a 16-1 loss to the Cubs.
"The boys left it all on the ice on Saturday and pretty much emptied the tank so the game Sunday didn't go the way they had hoped," said Sigfusson.
"The first period was an even, hard-hitting game. The very strong Cubs were able to find another gear in the second and third period to hand the Stamps a loss to contemplate on the ride home."
The Stamps were expecting an uphill battle the following weekend, playing a strong Mountainview Colts on the road Friday, Nov. 29, taking a 7-0 defeat, and coming up against the Northern Division leaders, the first place Sylvan Lake Wranglers, at home on Saturday, Nov. 30, and were shutout 10-0.
They take on the Airdrie Techmaction Thunder (third place) next on the road Friday, Dec. 6, followed by the Red Deer Vipers (second place) on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Their next home game will be a rematch against the Mountainview Colts on Dec. 13. If you miss that game, you can catch them play on home ice on Sunday, Dec. 15 versus the Three Hills Trashers.
Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
