By Emily Jaycox For the Independent
True to their word, the Stettler Lightning Junior B hockey team has climbed up to fourth in the northern division league standings after a three-game winning streak.
After a 2-5 loss at home against the Strathmore Wheatland Kings on Oct. 19, the Lightning went on to defeat the Coaldale Copperheads 3-2 at home Oct. 20, Three Hills 6-2 Nov. 2 and Lomond 6-1 Nov. 3 on the road.
Lomond and Three Hills were two teams the Lightning expected to beat, but both put a fight, says Head Coach Rory Rost.
“There are no gimmes in this league.”
The games were both close until the third periods, when the Lightning scored most of their goals.
The Lightning’s scoring was 1-2-3 in the game against Three Hills, shutting out the Thrashers in the second and third periods.
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Lightning. No. 4 Quade Cassidy and No. 11 Erik Rost were assets on the ice with one goal and three assists each.
Despite only icing 11 players for the away game against Lomond Nov. 3, scoring was similar with the Lightning going 1-2-3.
Lightning No. 6 Keiran Rost had a hat trick, accounting for half of the team’s goals.
The Lightning had some leading forwards back on the roster: Erik Rost, Matt Sylvester and Cassidy.
“They’re a real boost to our team,” he said.
No. 14 Ethan Rost, who’s been out with a broken jaw, may also return this weekend.
The Lightning have picked up a new goalie, No. 31, 20-year-old Indiana Kelly from Strathmore.
The team loses goalie Dalton Beck, who has returned to midget hockey in Delburne.
“We haven’t iced even close to our best team yet this year,” said Rost.
“We’re going to be a handful for any team in the league.”
Stettler played two back-to-back home games, against the Airdrie Techmation Thunder Nov. 9, and the High River Flyers Nov. 10.
Rost says he hopes the community will rally for these next home games and come out and watch some good, entertaining hockey.