The Stettler Imperials closed their regular season at home against the equally matched Sedgewick Sabres. Both teams went into the Jan. 25 tilt with twelve wins and three losses for the season.
Despite playing hard, the Stettler Imperials couldn't get the win, falling 2-0.
The first period saw both teams pushing hard, keeping the puck quickly moving back and forth between ends.
The Sabres would get the game's first penalty almost halfway through the period. Landon Eskra was sent to the box for interference. With five minutes left of play, Stettler’s Patrick Fischer would get called for a penalty as well.
The two teams would keep the puck moving with uninterrupted play for several minutes as the period drew to a close. As the last minute of play was called, the Sabres would get another penalty with Trevor Bromby going off for unsportsmanlike conduct. Stettler’s Dylan Houston would get a roughing penalty, making it four-on-four play for the last minute of the period.
As the first intermission began with both teams scoreless, Sedgwick would have ten shots on goal against Stettler’s eight.
The second period opened with no energy lost for either team. Sedgwick’s Mathew Pfeffer would get a slashing penalty two minutes in. This would soon be followed up with an unassisted Sabres goal by Dalton Zemanek. The Sabres Chase Schatschneider would give the Imperials a power play by taking a hooking call, but they were unable to capitalize on it.
A small skirmish in front of the Sabres net would put players from both teams in the penalty box. Sedgewick’s Ryan Guhle would take a roughing call while Stettler’s Cody Wright went to the box for slashing. The penalties came with a little over ten minutes left to go. The Sabres would get another penalty late in the second period with Landon Eskra giving the home team another power play.
The second period would close with the Sabres on the board up by one, and shots on goal equal at 20 each.
Both teams took to the ice for the third period with no loss of dedication by either team.
The third period saw long volleys of play between the two teams, neither side showing any wear from the earlier periods. A face-off in the Imperials' end would see the Sabres Zemanek make a quick shot and manage an unassisted goal as the period entered its last two minutes of play.
Stettler would be unable to make a comeback against Sedgewick, effectively ending their ten-game winning streak.
The Sabres would win the last regular season game with Stettler having 29 shots on goal against the visitors 26.
The Stettler Imperials have two games left this season, both on the road.
On Feb. 1, the team takes on the Irma Aces and on Feb. 8 they head down Highway 12 to take on the Coronation Royals in Castor for the final game of the regular season.
The Stettler Imperials are currently in second place in the East Central Senior Hockey League with 24 points, two points behind the Sedgewick Sabres and one point ahead of the third-place Provost Combines.
League Playoffs begin Family Day long-weekend.
