Regals still in hunt for East title

Brad McNabb, middle, scored a power play goal for the High Prairie Regals in the first period of the Jan. 26 game against Grande Prairie A’s. Rocky Collins assisted on the play. A dejected A’s goaltender Matt Yesemeniski looks on as the puck bounces from the net.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

The High Prairie Regals remain competitive going into the final regular games of the season, losing 5-4 in a shootout against the Lakeland Eagles, but winning 4-1 against the Grande Prairie A’s. The Regals travelled to Lakeland Jan. 25. Tyler Shantz scored two goals against the Eagles, an unassisted power play goal in the first period and an even-strength goal in the third. In addition, Tim Cunningham scored for the Regals early in the first period. Brad Macnab gave the Regals their third goal at 7:38 in the second. The game was tied 4-4 at the end of the third period and overtime, but Jerry Cunningham scored the winning goal for the Eagles in the shootout. He was the only one of six shooters to score. Cunninhgam also scored in regulation time for the Eagles. Daniel Belcourt, Craig VandeLigt and Al Anderson scored the other goals. The Regals hosted the Grande Prairie A’s Jan. 26 and the home team dominated play from the start. Brad Macnab’s power play goal at the 8:45 mark of the first period opened the scoring. T.J. Cunningham followed with his own power play goal three minutes later with Macnab drawing the lone assist. Play seesawed for the first three and a half minutes of the second frame. Macnab, Tyler Shantz and Rocky Collins moved deep into the A’s zone. Macnab flicked the puck in as he approached the net, giving him his second goal of the game. But just over a minute later, Shane Mudryk scored for the A’s with assists going to Rod Bowers and Brennan Jones. The goal gave the A’s life, as they continued to press. Their strong forecheck created numerous chances but Regals’ goaltender Kyle Shantz was up to the task stopping everything the A’s could throw his way. The Regals tried to make their own forays into the A’s territory, but did not meet with much success. For instance, at the 11-minute mark, Lee Lamouche took the puck past four A’s players and fired a shot as he approached the net, but goaltender Matt Yesemeniski stopped it. Lamouche got his second chance at 16:22 and scored. Rollie Gladue passed the puck to him in the slot from behind the net and he put it in the attic. Shantz assisted on the play as well. The Regals were ahead 4-1 at the end of the second frame. The A’s could have narrowed the gap in the third frame because of some bad penalties for the Regals. At 13:49, the officials discovered that goaltender Shantz had cut a notch on the paddle part of his stick for a better grip. Hockey Alberta rules forbid this, so Stewart Cunningham served a two-minute penalty in Shantz’s place. At 18:29, Lamouche received a minor for checking from behind and a game misconduct. Nonetheless, the Regals held on to win the game 4-1. Shots on goal were 33-26 in favour of the Regals. In addition, the Regals were two for nine on the power play while the As’ failed in seven attempts. Coach Brian Martinson says Shantz had a strong game in goal. He was also pleased with his teams’ effort. “We let them take the penalties and we worked our power play,” says Martinson. He also notes the Regals have signed Rocky Sawchyn, who will add experience to the defence. The Regals now have a 14-6-2-1 record for 31 points and trail Lakeland by one point in the batlte for first in the NPHL’s East Division. The Regals travel to Lakeland Jan. 31 and host the Falher Pirates Feb. 2. The Regals face a must-win situation at Lakeland if they want to place first in the division. A Lakeland win puts them ahead by three points with the Regals having only four games left. Lakeland also has two games left with Falher and one with Valleyview and Grimshaw. Barring a major upset, Lakeland should win all those games and place first. Meanwhile, the Regals still have to go to Fort St. John Feb. 9 to play the Flyers. Martinson says he will need his full crew for this game because the West Division leading 20-1-0-1 Flyers are a registered Senior AAA team.

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