By Emily Jaycox
For the Independent
After getting a few more points on the scoreboard, the Stettler Junior B Lightning hockey team are raring to go for their home game against the Mountain View Colts Saturday, Jan. 12.
The Colts have just a four-point lead on the Lightning heading into this game.
In their last matchup, Stettler lost to the Colts in OT, and they beat them 8-0 earlier in the year, so they have a decent shot of winning, says Head Coach Rory Rost.
The Lightning are now at 13-10-4 with 30 points, and have been holding a steady fourth place in the Northern Division standings.
Stettler defeated the Okotoks Bisons in a closely contested overtime win 3-2 Dec. 21.
They went on to a 5-1 victory over the Ponoka Stampeders Dec. 22 on home ice.
The Lightning came close to beating the second-place Red Deer Vipers at home Jan. 5, losing 5-4 in overtime.
“It was a really exciting game against Red Deer again,” said Rost.
Each time the Lightning have played Red Deer, the game has gone into OT, says Rost, adding he’s pleased they got a point off the Vipers.
The Lightning drew first blood, with No. 15 Jonathan Fournier scoring at 1:55 from No. 6 Keiran Rost.
The Vipers returned fire, scoring a few minutes later, but the Lightning again took the lead, with a goal from No. 13 Jeff Ternes and another from No. 11 Erik Rost, finishing the period 3-1 for Stettler.
Shots were 13-4 for the Lightning for the first period.
The Vipers scored in the second period, shutting out the Lightning, but were still down 3-2 for Stettler.
There was a minor skirmish five minutes into the third, but both teams took two 10-minute game misconduct penalties, says Rost.
The Vipers tied up the game six minutes into the third.
The Lightning fought back, regaining the lead with a goal from No. Ethan Rost at 16:00.
Not giving up easily, however, the Vipers scored again 30 seconds later, sending the game in overtime.
Neither team capitalized on power plays in this contest.
Next week will be a busy one for the Lightning, with three games in a row.
Because of a schedule change, they will play the Ponoka Stampeders at home Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 8:30 pm, and again in Ponoka on Jan. 16, then in Airdrie Jan. 18.