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Ponoka Stampeders ready to take on Blackfalds

The Stamps play their first in the best of three series Feb. 14
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Stampeders’ Nate Higgins scores big Feb. 7 at home against the Mountainview Colts. A 5-2 loss didn’t affect the Stamps’ playoff chances. They hit the road Feb. 14 versus Blackfalds in the first of a best of three playoff series. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

Two losses last week didn’t hurt the Ponoka Stampeders’ chance at a playoffs spot.

The Stampeders played the Mountainview Colts Feb. 7 at home losing 5-2. But the game was still close at the start of the third period.

The Colts were up 2-1 with the Stampeders players looking to stay strong in the game.

Joe Lovell, assistant coach, said they are still in the playoffs but having some positive momentum prior to those games would have been ideal.

“The big focus is getting winning so, it hurts,” said Lovell regarding the loss of momentum.

With Austin Ancion making the only goal when the third period began, the Stamps hoped to gain some points. Despite their best efforts, the Colts managed two more goals before Nate Higgins could sink the puck for Ponoka’s second.

At this point there was just over three minutes left in the game and the Colts grabbed another goal despite a six on five effort from the Stampeders.

“The last couple of minutes we were trying to get on the scramble, trying to push it forward and get them doing as much as they can,” said Lovell.

A bad bounce in one spot or another ended up hurting the Stampeders’ overall chances at winning, however, Lovell said the Colts are a strong team. “They’re fast and when we miss a step they’re right on us.”

The first in the best of three playoffs series versus the Blackfalds Wranglers starts Feb. 14 at an away game.

“We have a pretty strong record against Blackfalds and they’re certainly a team that we can beat,” said Lovell. “We have a lot of faith going in.”

“We’d like it in two, that’s for sure.”

Ponoka’s home game against Blackfalds is Feb. 16 at 8:45 p.m. and if there’s a need for a third game the team plays again in Blackfalds on Feb. 18.

For the rest of the game, the Stampeders had 20 shots on goal compared to the 36 by the Colts. Penalty-wise the game was clean with four minutes in penalties for Ponoka and 10 for Mountainview.

The Stampeders capitalized on one of the five power plays handed to them while the Colts scored one of their two power plays.

Ponoka played at home Feb. 10 against Airdrie Techmation Thunder losing 8-3.

Scorers for Ponoka were Jaycob Sayler, Jordan Jacobi and Ryan Harder.

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Stampeders’ Nate Higgins gets into the thick of action Feb. 7 at home against the Mountainview Colts. A 5-2 loss didn’t affect the Stamps’ playoff chances. They hit the road Feb. 14 versus Blackfalds in the first of a best of three playoff series. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye