The Ponoka Stampeders are grinding forward in the regular season.
With two home games over the weekend the Stamps managed two solid wins putting them in a 4-11-2 position (sitting ahead of the last place Three Hills Thrashers) in the season.
Playing the Three Hills Thrashers Nov. 24, Ponoka proved it has the skills to win with a final score of 8-2. Things were looking up for the Thrashers who scored two goals in the first period and Ponoka with none, but that was all they were able to get.
Ponoka scored the rest with one goal in the second being shorthanded and two made on power plays. At the end of the second period the score was 5-2. Three more goals in the third and the Stamps had the win secured.
As for penalties, it was all Three Hills as Ponoka didn’t have anything against them. Ponoka’s goal tender for the night, Keenan Starkell, saved 21 of the 23 shots on goal, compared to Three Hills, which switched goalies in the third.
Goal scorers for Ponoka were Kieran Bulloch (2), Kacey Straub (2), Devin Anderson, David Marcynuik, Ryan Harder and Isaiah Deschamps-Cross.
Against the Strathmore Wheatland Kings on Sunday, the game was much closer.
Ponoka won the game 2-1 in a bit of a nail biter performance. There was no scoring action in the first and only one goal in the second by Devin Anderson. In the third Brandon Brockerville secured the win for Ponoka.
Ponoka goalie Brandon Clark saved all but one of the Wheatland Kings 45 shots on goal. Comparing goal attempts, it’s clear Clark was a powerhouse for Ponoka in this game as the Stamps had half the attempts on goal — 22 in total.
Ponoka’s next home game is Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7:45 p.m.