Despite their best efforts, the Stettler Imperials weren’t able to ground the Hughendon Jets when the two teams faced off on Dec. 2.
The Imperials were on the road and started strong with a pair of goals to close the end of the first period barely a minute apart.
Stettler’s Adam Ternes, assisted by Kieran Rost and Cody Wright, found the back of the net with around 1:30 left in the period. Devan Shanks, unassisted, then put the team into a good position heading into the second period.
Closing the first period, the score was 2-0 Stettler, with shots 18-11 also in favour of Stettler. Penalties in the first period were split evenly between the two teams, with both teams taking roughing calls; the Jets were also called for hooking and slashing and the Imperials also received a roughing call.
The Jets struck back early in the second period, with Brett Dubuc, assisted by Tanner Sather and Logan Morrison, scoring on the powerplay about four minutes in.
Stettler’s JJ Fournier responded around the halfway mark of the period, assisted by Rhett Shingoose and Lowen Cassidy, with a goal of his own.
However, Dubuc wasn’t done; with around 4:30 left in the period, assisted by Sather and Brennan Anholt, Dubuc again found the back of the net on the powerplay.
At the end of 40 minutes, the score was 3-2 Stettler. Shots in the period were 10-8 in favour of the Jets. Stettler ended up on the penalty kill three times, suffering a pair of roughing calls and a hooking call. Hughendon ended up with their penalties, taking a slashing and a roughing call.
Scoring opened up in the third period. 11-seconds into the period, Brennan Anholt scored, assisted by Brady Johnson. Anholt scored again, this time on the powerplay 30 seconds later, assisted by Dubuc and Sather.
Stettler’s Ethan Rost tied it up three minutes later, assisted by Erik Rost and Kieran Rost, however it would not stay tied for long.
Barely 20 seconds later, Hughendon’s Tanner Sather, assisted by Adam Flynn and Kevin Bowman, notched his first goal of the season.
Hughendon notched another goal, this time by Braden Crone, assisted by Nick Laporte around four minutes into the period.
Erik Rost, assisted by Ethan Rost and Quade Cassidy, managed to get the score within one with just over four minutes left in the period, but the Imperials were unable to close the gap.
After 60 minutes, the score was 6-5 for the Hughendon Jets. Shots in the period were 13-12 in favour of the Jets. Stettler picked up a pair of penalties in the third period, one for hooking and one for slashing; Hughendon picked up four, two for holding, one for hooking and one for cross-checking.
Total shots for the game were 38-34 in favour of Stettler. Penalty minutes were 18-16 with the Jets accruing more. On the power play, Stettler converted on zero of six opportunities and the Jets converted on three of five.
The loss puts Stettler in a tie for fourth place with the Irma Aces, with each team sitting at eight points.
Next up for the Imperials, the team is on the road to Oyen where they will face off against the Oyen Eagles on Dec. 8 before returning home on Dec. 9 to host the Forestburg Flyers.