‘Mohr’ than the Regals can handle

High Prairie goaltender Kyle Shantz, left, smothers the puck as defenceman Craig Van de Ligt, centre, checks Grande Prairie’s Jordon Bombier. Bombier scored two third period goals to help lead his team to a 7-6 overtime win over High Prairie Nov. 8.

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

Sometimes you do everything wrong but come up smelling like a rose. Just ask defenceman Mike Mohr of the Grande Prairie Athletics regarding his overtime thriller against the hometown High Prairie Regals Nov. 8. Mohr picked up a loose puck at the blue-line and scored on a breakaway to give the A’s a 7-6 win in a highly entertaining game. “It was a lucky opportunity,” says Mohr. “I probably shouldn’t have been where I was.” Nonetheless, the A’s will take it while Regals’ manager Lee Hunt was left to wonder what could have been. “The main thing is we didn’t get the puck out of the blue line,” says Hunt. “If you get the puck out there’s a two-to-one chance you’ll score; if you get it out it’s 10-to-one. Tyler Shantz gave the Regals a 1-0 lead with the first period’s only goal. The A’s roared back with four straight goals in the second period including three on the power play to take a 4-1 lead. Brenan Jones and Kelsey Bombier scored on two-man advantages while Daryl Mahar scored with the A’s one man up. Jarett Sopko added the other goal even strength and it looked very dim for the Regals. It was Mohr’s key play which was part of the rally. Jarret Knibb tried to goad Mohr into a fight but the usually willing Mohr declined. Knibb drew a penalty and the A’s scored on the ensuing power play. “We had a short bench,” says Mohr, realizing his value to the team was vital. Mohr’s decision also drew praise from Hunt. “He made the right decision,” says Hunt. “Sometimes you have to walk away and put the team first.” However, just as the A’s dominated the second period, the Regals dominated the third. Peter Chalifoux’s short-handed goal – his first of the season - began the rally. T.J. Cunningham and Stan Auger scored goals 1:16 apart just before the midway point and the game was tied. “I was really impressed with the guys,” says Hunt. “They started to settle down and they really played well in the third period and we got a couple goals from some unlikely sources. They tried hard and worked hard.” Cory Reid gave the Regals a 5-4 lead with 9:57 left before Jordon Bombier’s goal on a delayed penalty tied the score. But as good leaders do, Shantz took the faceoff and scored only five seconds after Bombier’s effort to send the crowd into a frenzy. “That was the highlight of the game,” says Hunt. “The crowd went wild.” Jordon Bombier’s second goal of the game with 4:19 left sent the game into overtime before the giveaway cost the Regals a chance at another point. “We were terrible up the middle,” says Hunt. “Time after time we got punished for it.” Particularly on the power play. The A’s scored three times on eight chances and scored another goal on a delayed penalty. Most of the goals resulted from turnovers. “If you clear the zone, you’ll kill at least 15 seconds,” says Hunt. “The guys just have to focus and not get too fancy.” Hunt also alluded to the third period fight between Knibb and Dean Watson. The teams had something brewing all night. Regals’ defenceman Neil Laboucan took a triple minor in the second period, then Watson ran Laboucan in the third. Enter Knibb and Watson who took positions against each other and squared off in a heavyweight tilt. “Nothing was dirty, that’s the way things are settled,” says Hunt. “At least it was clean, there was no stickwork. It’s the way it should be handled.” Indeed, the referee assessed no extra penalty seeing both were willing combatants. Kyle Shantz took the loss while Dave Larson recorded the win. The A’s outshot the Regals 46-45. The Regals were blasted one night earlier in Falher as the Pirates climbed to first place in the early part of the season. The Pirates roared out of the gates to take a 5-1 first period lead. They led 7-2 after two before cruising to victory. Hunt did not attend the game but says he was told the Pirates kept coming at the Regals in waves all night. He adds turnovers once again plagued the team. Keith Reade scored four goals and added two assists to lead the Pirates. Deric Meunier added two goals while Mitch Maisonneuve, Jared Zawacky, Jean-Marc Meunier and Jason Bouchard added the others. Tyler Shantz, Lance Gauchier and Sohks Auger replied for the Regals, who outshot the Pirates 31-30 in the contest. The Valleyview Jets come to town for a game with the Regals Nov. 13 at 8:30 p.m. The Jets have lost 12 straight in High Prairie since winning in 2002. The Regals then travel to Grande Prairie Nov. 15 to complete the season series against the Athletics. The Regals have a fine 5-4 all-time record in Grande Prairie.

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