Regals 3 points ahead in battle for first

Chirs Clegg
South Peace News

Three big wins against the East Division’s weak sisters have put the High Prairie Regals back in first place. The Regals whipped the visiting Valleyview Jets 10-3 Jan. 16, then won at Manning 7-3 on Jan. 19 before returning home to defeat the Lakeland Eagles 8-3 Jan. 20 in a busy week of North Peace Hockey League action. The wins put the 14-6-0-0 Regals three points ahead of the 12-6-1-0 Peace River Stampeders, who enjoy a game in hand. Both team clinched playoff berths after action concluded last week. The Regals began the week with a 10-3 win over the Jets. Ryan Reeves scored six seconds into the game but after that it was all Regals. They scored five goals before the end of the first period and added three more goals in the second to take an 8-1 lead. The clubs traded four goals in the third period to end the scoring. Lance Gauchier continued his fine play of late by scoring three goals and adding a pair of assists. Justin Paul and Darin Konelsky each scored twice and added an assist while Claude Cunningham, Lawrence Anderson and newly-acquired Cory Reid added the other goals. Reeves, Frazier Caron and Chris Burnside replied for the Jets, who replaced starter Kent Ryan with veteran Earl Boman in the third. Sandford Lamouche recorded the win for the Regals, who outshot the Jets 36-22. The Jets arrived with 12 skaters and two goaltenders while the Regals had nearly a full bench. The Regals outshot the Jets 36-22 in the contest. Manning is always a tough place to win but the Regals won easily 7-3 Jan. 19 in a game that welcomed back Jay Anderson to the lineup. He responded with one goal and an assist in helping the Regals to victory. Lance Gauchier was the big gun, however, with four goals and an assist. Rollie Gladue added a goal and a helper while T.J. Cunningham had a goal and four assists. Justin Paul also had four assists. Ryan Haysey, Terry Whillans and midget Stefan Buchinski replied for the Comets, who played without several of their top scorers including Bob Whillans and Dan Reinders. The Comets’ lack of depth showed as the Regals dominated by outshooting the Comets 52-23 including 20-1 during the second period. The Regals concluded their successful week by defeating their arch-rivals from Lakeland 8-3. Kelly Cunningham’s breakaway goal provided the only scoring in the first period as he whipped a shot along the ice past starter Cannon Cunningham. In the second period, the Eagles took a 2-0 lead after Scott Laderoute tipped in a long rebound. Jay Anderson scored to put the Regals on the scoreboard but Starr Sasakamoose restored the Eagles’ two-goal lead less than two minutes later. The Regals began to take control of the game in the latter stages of the second period. T.J. Cunningham and Jay Anderson scored goals to tie the game heading into the third period. The Regals dominated the final frame on the scoreboard by outscoring the short-benched Eagles 5-0. Rollie Gladue, T.J. Cunningham, Darin Konelsky, Claude Cunningham and Lee Lamouche all scored to put the game away. As far as the Eagles were concerned, a good effort was spoiled. They outshot the Regals 40-31 despite a short bench, including 14-12 in the third period when they were outscored 5-0. Special teams were a big part of this game. The Regals scored on three of eight chances while the Eagles were blanked in six chances. The Regals now hit the road for two tough games this week. They travel to Grimshaw Jan. 25 to play the Huskies, then they go to Spirit River Jan. 27.

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