The second game of the season for the Ponoka Stampeders wasn’t a win but the team showed improvement over the first game where they lost 10-0.
The Stamps played the Medicine Hat Colts Sept. 22 at home with decent fan base watching the team play.
The first period for both teams turned out to have little action, with no scores or penalties and an almost equal number of shots on goal (12 for the Cubs and 11 for the Stamps).
Where the action really picked up was in the second period, mostly coming from Medicine Hat. Whatever challenges the team had against Ponoka, the players seemed to have adjusted.
By the end of the second period the Cubs had scored four goals while Ponoka had one, which was made possible thanks to a power play.
At the end of the third period the Cubs managed one final score to make it 5-1.
Overall the Stampeders had less opportunities on goal with 30, compared to 45 for the Cubs.
It wasn’t for a lack of trying, however, the Cubs’ defence proved a challenge for the Stamps close to the net. This forced Ponoka to take more shots from closer to the blue line.
Ponoka also struggled to turn power plays into scoring opportunities, with the Cubs handing them five total power plays with only one being turned into a goal.
A fight early in the third period resulted in a game misconduct for one player on each team and one more for the Cubs later in the third.
Despite the challenges, the Stamps showed some strength in their passing and getting the puck over the Cubs’ blue line, but they were unable to find a hole in the defense.
At press time the Stampeders were sitting with two games played and two losses.
The Stamps’ next game is at home Sept. 29 against the Lomond Lakers.