The Stettler Imperials hosted the Coronation Royals on Nov 9, after both teams suffered defeats the night before.
Stettler was taking to the ice for a Saturday home game after losing to the Provost Combines on Friday.
The Royals drew the first penalty of the game early in the first period when Mitch Finkbiner was called for hooking. Despite the setback, the Royals would soon notch the first goal of the game, thanks to Garrett Compton and assisted by Chase Tkach. The Royals managed a second goal in short order from Kelly Coppock, assisted by Finkbiner and Matt Hanger.
The Royals would start the second period with an interference call against Kelly Coppock. After some fast back-and-forth play between the two energetic teams, Imperials’ Adam Ternes would get the home team’s first goal in the second. Ternes was assisted by Rhett Shingoose and DJ Kistner on his power-play goal.
The Royals goalie Jason Reckseidler would draw the second penalty of the period, with a delay of game. The Imperials took the opportunity for another power-play goal with Erik Rost, and assisted by Dylan Houston.
Both teams would end the period drawing penalties. First, the Royals’ Hunter Baldwin took a tripping call. This would be followed by another penalty by Imperials’ Shingoose. Tensions between the two teams boiled over at the end of the second period with a multi-player skirmish taking place after play had ended. Officials broke up the conflict with some effort and prevented smaller disruptions.
The third period started with roughing calls being made for several players from the dust-up before the break in play.
Coronation’s Garrett Compton would then get a roughing penalty after a few minutes of third-period play.
The Imperials would soon get the first goal of the period with Chase Skodopole getting the assist for JJ Fournier. The Royals soon answered back with Hunter Baldwin slipping the puck in, with an assist from Finkbiner.
Both teams pushed hard for the remainder of the period, keeping the puck moving steadily across the ice. Royals Cade James was called for tripping. The Imperials didn’t waste much time and would manage to get a goal ahead of Coronation. Stettler’s Dylan Houston was assisted by Quade Cassidy and Ethan Rost.
As the period drew to a close, the Royals called a time out to discuss options. As play resumed, the visiting team pulled their goalie in hopes the extra man would help balance the scoreboard.
The Royals were able to keep the pressure on Stettler’s net, and tensions caused a couple of small interruptions behind the home team’s net. As the period drew to a close, Stettler would come out ahead with a score of 4 to 3. Stettler would also end the game with 41 shots on goal to Coronation’s 24.
With this game in the books, Stettler sits with a 2-2-0 record while Coronation remains winless in their first four games.
