Chris Clegg
South Peace News
After a minor bump in the road the last few weeks, the High Prairie Red Wings appear to be finding their groove once again.
The Red Wings swept a home-and-home series against the Mayerthorpe Lighting last weekend. The Red Wings clipped the Lightning 5-3 on home ice Dec. 6, then won at Mayerthorpe Dec. 7 by a score of 7-4.
The Red Wings are now 13-5-1-0 for 27 points in the National Junior Hockey League’s Alberta North Division and lead the 10-12-0-2 Lightning by five points but they do enjoy five games in hand. The Red Wings still trail the first place Edson Eagles by nine points.
The Red Wings fired 72 shots on the Lighting goaltender in the 5-3 win while allowing 53.
Kayden Varga opened the scoring for the Lightning just after one minute had elapsed.
But Ty Cunningham tied the game before the end of the period, then Harley Noskey and Darius Baker scored in the second period to give the Red Wings a 3-1 lead.
In the third period, the Lightning closed the gap to 3-2 on Jesse Swanson’s goal but Noskey restored the two-goal lead shortly afterward.
Again, the Lightning pulled to within one goal at 4-3 on Varga’s second goal of the night but Noskey’s third goal of the night with only 13 clicks left on the clock preserved the win.
The next day in Mayerthorpe, the Red Wings enjoyed period leads of 3-1 and 5-3 in a game they never trailed.
Noskey, Noah Hamelin and Cunningham gave the Red Wings a quick 3-0 lead in the first before Regan Thomas put the Lightning on the scoreboard.
In the second period, Cunningham notched his second of the game while Tate Paul added the other.
Tyson Ward and Swanson replied for the Lightning.
Paul scored again the third period with Noah Cunningham adding a late goal to end the scoring for the Red Wings.
Thomas’ second goal of the night accounted for the Lightning scoring.
The Red Wings host the Lightning Dec. 13.