The third-place Stettler Imperials opened the team’s 2024 first-round playoff run with a game-one win against the sixth-place Hughenden Jets on Feb. 23.
Both teams played conservatively in the first period at the Stettler Recreation Centre, with plenty of end-to-end action but neither side succeeded in giving or taking, too much.
It was just under four minutes left in the frame when the scoring deadlock was broken with Ethan Rost finding the back of the net.
Less than two minutes later, the Jets struck back with a powerplay marker by forward Braden Crone.
At the end of the period it was tied at one, with both teams having been sent to the penalty box for a trio of times.
Shots in the period were 12-9, favouring Hughenden.
After the intermission, both teams hit the ice prepared to score; the Imperials opened scoring in the second period with a shot by Devan Shanks around six-and-a-half minutes in, assisted by Brett Muhlbach and Adam Ternes.
Not to be outdone, the Jets struck back less than a minute later with a goal by Brennan Anholt.
The Imperials struck again, this time with a powerplay goal by Claye Spady who got one by Jets goalie Wyatt Johnson. Spady was also assisted by Muhlbach.
Closing out the second period, shots were 11-5 in favour of Stettler, with the Imperials carrying a one-goal lead into the intermission.
Penalties for the period were three for the Imperials, ranging from slashing to charging, and four for the Jets, ranging from holding to slough-footing.
After the second intermission, the Jets came out aggressively, outshooting the hometown Imperials by nearly two-to-one, but, despite some skate issues, Imperials goalie Davin Nattestad was up to the task, shutting out the Jets in the third period.
For the Imperials, Brett Shingoose, assisted by Kieran Rost, scored around six minutes into the frame.
With just over two minutes left, Quade Cassidy got on the scoreboard with an empty-netter, then Shanks picked up his second goal of the game with just over a minute left. Both goals were on the powerplay.
Penalties for the period were two for the Imperials for high sticking and roughing, and five for the Jets with infractions ranging from high-sticking to slashing. Total penalty minutes were 26 for the Jets and 16 for the Imperials.
At the close of the third, the final score was 6-2 in favour of the hometown Imperials, with shots 21-11 in favour of Hughenden.
Game two of the series picks up in Hughendon on Feb. 24.
