Despite a loss to the Three Hills Thrashers the Ponoka Stampeders are heading to the playoffs.
Their first game is set for tonight (Feb. 8) in Red Deer with the second game planned for Feb. 10 in Maskwacis at the Four Nations Arena at 7:30 p.m. If needed, a third game will be played Feb. 11 in Red Deer.
As for the Thrashers’ game the Stamps concluded their regular season to a decent crowd Feb. 4 losing 3-1. The home team played like it was ready for the season to end. James Jansen scored the Stamps’ only goal with an assist from Nate Higgins and Taite Opdendries.
It wasn’t for lack of options, however, as the Stampeders were able to capatalize on only one of the five power plays handed to them. The Thrashers had the same number of power plays managing to score on two of them.
Shots on goal was relatively close with the Thrashers who outshot the Stamps 38-32 giving both goalies — Carter Gendreau and Zeke Leuck — a chance on net.
On the penalty side of things both teams showed their willingness to get into the thick of things. Ponoka clocked one game misconduct and one slashing penalty for a total of 12 minutes while the Thrashers tagged a game misconduct, elbowing and roughing for 14 minutes in the first.
As the game heated up so did the penalties in the second with Walker Guthrie getting a game ejection and the team tagging a game misconduct, slashing, high sticking and cross checking for a total of 16 minutes. The Trashers had a total of six minutes in the penalty box.
The real fighting happened in the third period with a total of 60 minutes in fighting penalties — game misconduct and fighting — equally split between the teams.
For the second game check back at the Ponoka Stampeders’ Facebook page or on its Twitter page.