By Carson Ellis
For the Stettler Independent
The Stettler Imperials hosted the Hueghenden Jets on Friday, Feb. 9, in what is one of their last regular season home games.
The Imperials managed what looked like a goal within the first few seconds of play; however, it was deemed no goal since the net was found to be off its moorings.
Despite the setback, the game’s first official goal came a few minutes in thanks to Rhett Shingoose. Shingoose was assisted by Keiran Rost and Ethan Rost. The two teams spent the next few minutes giving each other a good run up and down the ice. A second goal from Imperials’ Alex DeYoung with an assist by Riley Turre came shortly after.
The Jets would take the first two penalties of the game. The first was by Brady Johnson, for tripping. Logan Morrison would take a slashing penalty later on in the play. The Jets’ first goal of the game came at 9:35 in the first in a shot by Ryley Johnson and assisted by Morrison.
Once the puck was in, a brief skirmish broke out behind the net, but neither side felt committed and it was soon split apart. Each team took a roughing penalty.
The Imperials would take a tripping penalty from Shingoose before the end of the period.
The last few moments of play ended with both teams pushing hard for control of the puck. At the end of the first period, Imperials had 17 shots on net to Jets 9.
The second period opened with a show of pressure from both teams from the start. Imperials’ DeYoung took a holding penalty after the first few minutes of the period. Hughenden followed by taking the next penalty with #Brant Johnson being called for interference.
Both teams continued to push with no signs of either side giving up.
During the second period, the Hughenden coach was ejected from the game for comments made to an official; the coach was cited with a game misconduct as well as gross misconduct.
The Imperials’ Ethan Rost managed to slip one into the Jets’ net during the ensuing powerplay. Rost was assisted by Erik Rost and Kieran Rost. The play would resume for only a short while before Devan Shanks would also score a goal with an assist from Lowen Cassidy and Turre.
Tensions had slowly been growing during the second period, with each team poking at the other. A brawl that started with two players aggressively shoving at each other quickly spread to smaller fights between other players as officials stepped in. Small exchanges between players would begin to take place for the rest of the game. The Jets’ Tanner Sather would take a two-minute penalty for roughing and slashing as well as a game misconduct.
Roughing penalties would also be passed out to both Imperials and Jets players for major altercations.
Tye Mulgrove would get the Imperial’s next goal with an assist by Shingoose.
As the second period quickly wound down, Hughenden managed two goals quick goals. The first goal was from Jesse Damberger with an assist from Blayd Anholt. The second goal came seconds later with Cameron Dion assisted by Damberger. They managed a third goal in the last few seconds of play with Jets’ Braden Crone being assisted by Dion and Johnson.
The Jets opened the third period with penalties for both cross-checking and tripping. They would also manage the first goal of the period. Dion’s goal, with an assist from Logan Morrison, would tie the game.
Both teams showed no signs of wearing down as Imperials’ Ethan Rost, with an assist from Shanks, would give them a one-goal lead before the end of the third.
Small skirmishes erupted throughout the rest of the rapid-moving game. Hughenden pulled their goalie for the last minutes of play, and the extra man managed to keep Imperials pushing right until the end. The Imperials won the game 6-5.
The Stettler Imperials next game is Feb. 17 at home against the Provost Combines.
