Topsy-turvy series goes limit after Regals fail to seal deal March 3

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

It’s all come down to one game, winner-take all between the High Prairie Regals and Lakeland Eagles in their North Peace Hockey League East Division Semi-final. The Eagles forced Game 7 with a 5-3 home ice win March 3, after being blasted 16-3 in High Prairie March 1. The series has featured inconsistent play by both teams, with one team virtually dominating the game in each win, with the exception of Game 6. Whoever brings it to the table in Game 7 will surely advance unless both teams come prepared - something that all hockey fans would like to see. Lakeland tied the series 2-2 with a 9-7 win Feb. 27 in McLennan. The Regals blew leads of 2-1 and 5-3. James Tallman scored four goals and added an assist while Daniel Belcourt scored twice and added three assists. Junior Anderson added a pair and Roland Ducharme the other goal. Lance Gauchier responded with a hat-trick for the Regals. Lee Lamouche, T.J. Cunningham, Justin Paul and Jay Anderson added the other goals. The fifth game in High Prairie was a 16-3 pasting although the beginning certainly didn’t look that way. The Regals led 3-2 after one period but scored five goals in a 10-minute span in the second to lead 8-2. In the third, the Eagles rolled over and died, probably knowing the game was out of reach and they would live to fight another day. Justin Paul had four goals including three in the third period to lead the assault. Rollie Gladue had three goals and two assists, T.J. Cunningham had two goals and three assists, Darin Konelsy had two goals and two assists and Jay Anderson had one goal and four assists. Rondy Gauchier, Bruce Cunningham, Laine Gray and Lawrence Anderson added singles. Craig Van de Ligt, Eli Cunningham and James Tallman replied for Lakeland. Despite the pasting the Eagles returned home March 3 to tie the series and force Game 7. After a scoreless first period, Kelly Cunningham opened the scoring on a power play 1:39 into the period. Junior Anderson made it 2-0 before T.J. Cunningham and Justin Paul scored in the last 12 minutes of the period to tie the score 2-2. Scott Laderoute gave the Eagles a 3-2 lead in the first minute of the second period but the Regals battled back again to tie the score on Jay Anderson’s goal with 8:07 left. However, with 3:25 left Eli Cunningham fired home the eventual game-winning goal on a power play. James Tallman added the empty-netter to seal the win with only 10 seconds left.

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