Chris Clegg
South Peace News
Hopes the High Prairie Red Wings have of placing first in the National Junior Hockey League’s Alberta North Division took a serious hit last week with losses to the first place Edson Eagles and Mayerthorpe Lightning.
The Red Wings lost the battle of the two top teams in the division 7-3 to the Eagles at the Sports Palace Nov., 15, then went to Mayerthorpe Nov. 16 and were shocked 8-3 by the Lightning.
The Red Wings now trail the 15-1 Eagles by 11 points in the race for first but they do have two games in hand. The Red Wings will have to solve the Eagles in their remaining games because the Eagles show no signs of slowing down.
The Eagles scored the only goal of the first period when Mason Buzzell scored at the 3:04 mark.
In the second, the Eagles took command by scoring four goals to take a 5-1 lead.
Austin Berezowski made it 2-0 before the Red Wings struck on Owen Paul’s marker.
However, Berezowski added a pair and Landy Johnson another to give the Eagles a commanding lead.
In the third period, the Eagles increased their lead to 7-1 on goals from Johnson and Berezowski’s fourth of the night.
Noah Cunnigham and Nolan Noskey scored in the final eight minutes to make the score somewhat respectable.
The Eagles outshot the Red Wings 45-38.
At Mayerthorpe, the Lightning scored a rare win over the Red Wings. They took a 3-0 first period lead and enjoyed period leads of 3-1 and 5-2.
Tyson Ward’s hat trick led the attack for the Lightning while Everett Wolftail, Nolan Sanderson, Tray Preuss, Reegan Thomas and Kyle Auger added the other goals.
Jordan Anderson, Barrett Butcher and Cunningham replied for the Red Wings, who were outshot 49-48.
The Red Wings next see action Nov. 22 when they travel to Lac la Biche to play the last place Lakers (4-9). Nov. 23 will see the Red Wings get another crack at the Edson Eagles on home ice.