It was an explosion of energy as the Ponoka Junior B Stampeders hit the ice on Wednesday, Jan. 21 for a home game against the Red Deer Vipers. But solid passing by Red Deer and some issues with their own defence ultimately led to defeat of the hosts.
The final score was 9-4 after Red Deer pulled ahead 4-0 in the first period and set the stage to win.
“I think our offence was fine, but when you give up nine it’s hard to win,” said team captain Cody Lemon.
He feels a team scoring four goals in a game should be able to come out a winner.
“Defense positioning is what it comes down to,” said Lemon. Red Deer dominated Ponoka’s zone with superb puck control and teamwork. They forced the Stampeders to chase them around rather that hold their positions.
“I though our effort was lacking in some situations,” Lemon added.
Adding to challenges on the ice was the aggressiveness of the game. By the end of the third period the Stampeders had racked up 32 penalty minutes for offences such as unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing, slashing and misconduct. Between the two teams, the game ended with 56 penalty minutes on the board.
“We’ve always had bad blood between the two (teams),” said Lemon. The game was also an emotional retaliation following a previous combative game between the two.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing. It kind of brings a team together,” said Lemon.
Ponoka did not score until late in the second period, at which time it scored twice in a row, the goals where by Kwyn Hiebert and Nate Higgins.
Tye Munro also scored early in the third period and the team’s last goal of the game came from Chandler Knibb, on a power play.
Proud of his team for the four goals it was able to score, Lemon says the remaining games of the season are a fresh start for the team after head coach Mark Dobler was fired on Jan. 11. “I think we’re a lot more positive now,” he said
“With a coaching change, it brings a fresher start, lets us get away from what’s happened,” he added.
At the end of the Jan. 21 game, Lemon said the Stampeders had six games left in the season. The boys played again on Saturday, Jan. 24 with a 5-4 loss to the Cochrane Generals and a Sunday, Jan. 25 loss to the Mountainview Colts, 4-3.
Against the Generals, Kwyn Hiebert, Cody Lemon and Justin McKenzie all scored in the second period. Nate Higgins scored the team’s final goal at 5:54 in the third period on a power play, pushing the game to a 4-4 tie. Cochrane scored again in overtime for the win.
During the Jan. 25 game Nate Higgins, Chase Staldeker and Tye Munro scored Ponoka’s three points.
Since the beginning of the season, the Stampeders have played 34 games with two wins. Lemon feels the scoreboard does not always reflect the amount of effort the boys put into a game, causing the team to lose confidence in themselves. “For the last at least four games, we’ve been putting in some pretty good effort.”
“I think we’re playing for next year. We’re trying to bring some confidence back,” he added.
Looking back over the season, Lemon does not see just losses. “We’ve come together as a team more than anything. We’re trying not to focus on the losses. Right now we’re trying to stay positive.”
“The main thing is right now we have people who want to be there and want to play,” he added.
The Stampeders’ next home game, and last game of the season, is Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2:30 p.m. against Airdrie.