6-goal night dedicated to passing friend

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

Scoring six goals in a game is nothing new for High Prairie Regals’ star Tyler Shantz. Shantz accomplished the feat for the sixth time in his NPHL career Jan. 12 as the Regals defeated the visiting Fairview Kings 8-5. Shantz was pumped for the game after hearing about long-time Regals’ fan Ron Smith’s untimely passing a few days earlier at the age of 54. “Yesterday was a special night for me because I really wanted to have a big game for my friend who passed away earlier this week,” says Shantz. “So that was dedicated to him.” Shantz scored two goals in each period, the last into an empty net. It’s only the 39th time since the 1991-92 season the feat has been accomplished. Shantz has accomplished the feat three times while playing for Lakeland, three times for High Prairie. Still, Shantz sees himself as more of a playmaker than a scorer. “I don’t think you can ever know that you’re going to score six goals in a game simply because it’s not about the goal scorer, it’s about the playmaker,” he says. “If the puck doesn’t come to me at the exact time, I’m only as good as my linemates and the people who surround me.” T.J. Cunningham, who trails Shantz by four points in the NPHL scoring race (60-56), assisted on four of Shantz’s goals while defenceman Cory Reid assisted on five of the markers. The league record is 11 goals set by Travis Cunningham in a game at Falher Feb. 14, 1998. Although Shantz has a realistic shot at the record if things fall right some day, he downplays the notion. “To score 10 or 11 goals in the league these days would be something else, so I’m sure the record will stand for a long time.” Shantz grew up watching Grimshaw’s Terry Houlder and Lakeland’s Al Anderson, two players he idolized. “Because they made everyone around them better players. To me, an assist is the same as a goal because without the pass there is no goal.” Shantz remembers his best minor hockey games but none included an 11-goal game. “I think I did have 50 goals in eight games and a 16-point game with 10 goals and six assists once. I had over 170 points in midget as a first-year bantam.” Another High Prairie Regal, Lance Gauchier, had a six-goal game at Falher Dec. 20, 2007 as the Regals blasted the Pirates 14-4. They are the only two players to accomplish the feat so far this season. 6-pack Special for Shantz Team Goals Result Date 1. LL 6 VV 1 at LAKE 13 Nov. 15, 2001 2. LL 6 HP 5 at LAKE 17 Jan. 15, 2002 3. LL 7 VV 6 at LL 14 Jan. 23, 2003 4. HP 6 VV 6 at HP 15 Nov. 23, 2004 5. HP 6 MAN 1 at HP 17 Jan. 17, 2006 6. HP 6 FAIR 5 at HP 8 Jan. 12, 2008

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