By Emily Jaycox For the Independent
The Stettler Junior B Lightning put up a valiant fight against the undefeated Airdrie Techmation Thunder Nov. 9, losing 3-6, an improvement over their last matchup of 2-13.
“For the most part, I’m extremely happy with the effort,” said Head Coach Rory Rost.
Scoring was a consistent 1-1-1 for the game.
Two goals were scored by No. 11 Erik Rost, and one by rookie No. 19 Logan Spady.
Icing 18 players helped make Stettler more of a threat to the Thunder.
“We just rolled all four lines, we didn’t shorten the bench at all.”
The Lightning scored a short-handed goal on Airdrie in the first period, which really motivated the team and excited the crowd, says Rost.
“It was a pretty clean game until the third period.”
With about eight minutes left in the game, a rookie Lightning player went after a loose puck, accidentally making contact with the Thunder’s goalie, according to Rost.
The 16-year-old player stumbled behind the net, and two or three Thunders jumped him and started throwing punches, says Rost.
No. 24 Reagan Holmes went in to defend him along with a couple other players.
Holmes was given two 10-minute misconduct penalties and is suspended for the next two games.
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Four Airdrie players received penalties for roughing, instigating and cross-checking.
“It was completely unnecessary,” said Rost, adding he felt the Lightning got the “raw end of the deal.”
Airdrie should’ve received three of four fighting majors but they weren’t called because the players kept their gloves on, says Rost.
The Lightning flipped the score the next night, beating the High River Flyers 6-3.
The Flyers got first blood, but the Lightning quickly retaliated, with an unassisted goal from Jeff Ternes, tying up the period.
The Lightning just gained momentum from there, scoring four consecutive goals in the second period.
Scorers were Keiran Rost, Rylee Jacobson, Tye Mulgrove and Logan Spady.
“That pretty much put the game away.”
The Flyers scored with a minute left in the game, but the Lightning scored an empty-net goal with 30 seconds on the clock.
“The shots were reasonably close and we played a solid game again.”
The Lightning will now play the Blackfalds Wranglers at home Nov. 13, starting at 8:30 p.m.
Stettler will need to win this game to keep their precarious two-point lead on the Wranglers in the Northern Division standings.
“We’re really hoping to beat them because it is an important game.”