Regals show no mercy

Chirs Clegg
South Peace News

You would have never guessed in a million years that the Manning Comets were fighting for their playoff lives when they visited the Sports Palace Feb. 10 to play the High Prairie Regals. The Comets, one point behind Lakeland entering the night, arrived with just nine skaters and two goaltenders against the first place Regals, who were not about to show any mercy. The Regals blasted the Comets 15-4 to all but clinch first place in the North Peace Hockey League’s East Division. The Regals lead the Peace River Stampeders by two points and need only an overtime loss or shootout loss in their final two games to clinch. Or, have Peace River lose to the same Comets Thursday, an unlikely scenario given the Comets effort Saturday. The Regals enjoyed period leads of 4-1 and 9-2 and outshot the overmatched Comets 73-33. The Regals probably had at least that many shots as the Comets put up no fight whatsoever. Four Regals netted hat-tricks including Claude Cunningham, Lawrence Anderson, Lee Lamouche and Justin Paul. T.J. Cunningham added a pair and Rollie Gladue the other goal, his being the game winner in the second period. Had T.J. Cunningham scored one more goal it would have tied a club record for hat-tricks in a game. On Dec. 1, 1979, the Regals blasted Manning 19-7 with Rod Berg, Jim McLean, Pat Dupuis, Bob Cox and Rick Dumont doing the honours. Terry Whillans, Jared May, Brett Kennedy and Justin Kelly replied for the Comets, who played a penalty free game giving an indication of their desire to mix it up given their short bench. The Regals can take care of business Feb. 15 when the host the Grimshaw Huskies, who will place third in the East Division. With a win, the Regals can all but guarantee an East Division semi-final playoff series against the Lakeland Eagles, who are on the verge of clinching the fourth and final playoff spot. All they need to do is win one of their two final games or have Peace River defeat the Comets Feb. 15.

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