Chris Clegg
South Peace News
They are the defending champs but even this isn’t supposed to happen!
A very spirited and improving High Prairie Regals team made the trip to Spirit River Nov. 23 and led 5-3 with just over six minutes left and looked assured in picking up their first win of the NPHL season.
But queue the comeback!
The Rangers erupted for four goals in a 4:38 span to steal a 7-5 win and sweep the season series, having already won 3- 1 in High Prairie.
To rub more salt into the wounds, the win also marked the first time this season in 23 games that any NPHL team trailing after two periods (4-2) came back to win.
Drake Cunningham’s first period goal was the only scoring of the first period, and the first time the Regals scored first this season in six games.
In the second period, Johnathan Belyan’s power play goal put the Regals up 2-0.
Shortly after, Dustin Sather’s power play goal put the Rangers on the scoreboard but Devon Quartly and Benny Yellowknee replied and the Regals were comfortably ahead 4-1.
Marco St.-Pierre’s goal with 4:07 left gave the Rangers some life. It was not the end of the damage he was about to inflict, however.
In the third period, Jace Weegar and Belyan (shorthanded) traded goals and it was 5-3.
But the collapse occurred.
Payton Lappenbush started the rally to close the gap to 5-4, then Weegar’s second goal of the period tied the game 5-5 with 5:48 left. The goals came a scant 14 seconds apart.
St.-Pierre then bent the twine twice in the last 4:58 to give the Rangers the win.
A bad night got even worse as two Regals coaches – Jerry Kruger and Sandy Laughlin – were given gross misconducts at the end of the game. They each face two-game suspensions and the accompanying $100 fine. They are the first fines levied by the NPHL this season.
The Rangers were 1-for-11 on the power play and spent much of the game with the man advantage. The Regals were very game killing off chance after chance. It was, however, a large reason why the Rangers outshot the Regals 48-29 in the contest.
Meanwhile, Belyan and Cunningham scored on the power play as the Regals clicked on two of six chances.
The Regals face the Falher Pirates Thursday, Nov. 28 and look to avenge a 14-1 defeat from Nov. 7.
The Regals also invite the public to join them at “Skate with the Regals’ at High Prairie Light-Up Nov. 29 from 7-9 p.m. at the Sports Palace. Members of the team will join the public for a free skate as part of Light-Up festivities