Richard Froese
South Peace News
The High Prairie Red Wings won two of three games to open the 2024 portion of the 2023-24 season in the National Junior Hockey League.
The Red Wings melted the Fox Creek Ice Kings 14-0 at home Jan. 5, shocked the host Mayerthorpe Northern Alberta Lightning 11-7 on Jan. 6 and lost to the Gibbons Pioneers 3-2 in a shootout Jan. 7 on the road.
Irvin Crowchild and Braydan Auger each scored three goals against a short-handed Fox Creek team.
Jay Cuthbert, Owen Paul and Kaden Desjaralais each scored twice for the Red Wings, who led 6-0 after the first period and 9-0 after the second period.
Ty Cunningham and Nolan Noskey also scored.
Joseph Isaac earned the shutout in net as the Red Wings outshot the Ice Kings 57-30.
Red Wings’ head coach Trent Meyaard was happy the team added five of a possible six points in the standings.
“It was an action-packed weekend that started slow but ended with great competition,” Meyaard says.
“Gibbons fought hard all game.”
The Red Wings were short-a few players in Gibbons because some had to work while others were sick or injured, notes, he says.
Johny Labelle, Cody Waller and Nolan Noskey each popped a pair in Mayerthorpe for the Red Wings, who led 3-1 after the first period and 6-3 after the second period.
Red Wing goaltender Tucker Bayley was solid in net as High Prairie outshot the Lightning 60-35.
Ending the three-game weekend in Gibbons, the Red Wings lost in a shootout.
Nodah Healy and Cunningham scored for the Eagles, who led 2-0 in the second period before the Pioneers battled back.
High Prairie goaltender Cole Webber was kept busy as the Red Wings outshot the Pioneers 52-44.
Upcoming, the Red Wings host the league-leading Edson Eagles on Jan. 19 before the two teams play in Edson on Jan. 20. Both teams face off again Jan. 27 in High Prairie.