By Carson Ellis
For the Stettler Independent
The Stettler Imperials went into their Saturday game at five and two on the season against the Forestburg Flyers. The Saturday game was also their second in two nights after the Stettler club won against the Oyen Eagles on Friday.
Both teams opened the game at a steady pace, Stettler showing no real signs of being slow from playing two nights in a row.
Imperial Ethan Rost took the first penalty of the game early on. The early play saw both teams make several good efforts on the net, but both goalies were ready. Stettler’s first goal of the night eventually came with Adam Ternes and Brett Muhlbach assisting Devan Shanks
Stettler would make two more goals within a short window of time from each other. The first was an unassisted goal by Adam Ternes. The second goal came only moments later and would be Shanks’ second goal of the night. This time assisted by Brenden Tucker.
The Imperials would pick up another penalty before closing the first period with a three-nothing lead.
Entering the second period, things started a bit quicker for both teams. Flyer Mat Ponto got an early penalty for holding just over five minutes into play. This would be followed by Stettler’s DJ Kistner getting a high sticking penalty a few minutes afterwards.
Flyers managed to get a spot on the scoreboard just over five minutes into the period. Forestburg’s Alex Badry was assisted by Tyler Vaillancourt. After another five minutes of play, the Flyers would end up getting a penalty shot. Again the goal was scored by Badry.
The Imperials kept the Flyers busy with both teams playing fast hockey. The puck only stayed in each end for short amounts of time, before being returned to the other. Flyers Spencer Woody was called on a hooking penalty, giving the Imperials a powerplay.
The next Imperials’s goal was made by Devan Shanks and would be his third of the season. Shanks was assisted by Rhett Shingoose and Brett Muhlbach. Ethan Rost gave the home team fans something to cheer about with another goal in the second period. This time Erik Rost assisting.
Each team took on penalty minutes before the end of the second period. When the clock wound down, leaving the Imperials with a 5-2 lead over the Flyers. The period was kept tight with Stettler’s 28 shots on net followed closely by Forestburg’s 22.
Neither team showed signs of slowing down as they went into the third period. The Flyers would take the first penalty of the period with Tyson Bonnett being called for cross-checking.
The Imperials kept the Flyers moving up and down the ice and both goalies continued to be on their toes. Despite this, Stettler’s Devan Shanks managed to get one into the Flyers’ net. The power-play goal was made with an assist from Brett Muhlbach and Rhett Shingoose.
Kieran Rost was sent to the penalty box for cross-checking. The second penalty call was on Justin Fournier. Fourneir’s penalty. and Forestburg’s powerplay, was just moments after Rost had returned to the ice.
The Imperials’ last goal of the period was made by Brendan Tucker. Tucker’s goal was assisted by Quade Cassidy and Erik Rost.
Both teams would push hard right up until the last moments of play, but the Flyers were unable to get any more points; the Imperials would win their second game of the weekend with a score of 7-2 over the Forestburg Flyer.
With the back to back wins, Stettler now solely occupies first place in the league with 12 points, one point a head of second place Sedgewick.
