Pesky A’s complete home-and-home sweep

Valleyview’s David Schultz, left, gets tangled with High Prairie Regals Stuart Cunningham player during North Peace Hockey League action Nov. 13. The Regals outgunned the Jets 11-7. It’s the 23rd straight time the Regals have defeated the Jets.

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

Most hockey players can only dream of scoring six goals in a game of competitive senior hockey. But Tyler Shantz of the High Prairie Regals accomplished the feat for the seventh time in his North Peace Hockey League career Nov. 13 as the visiting and beleaguered Valleyview Jets were hammered 11-7. Shantz score twice in each period, including two shorthanded goals in the first. He now trails Travis Cunningham, who accomplished the rare feat eight times in his NPHL career. But two critical plays in the third period were the difference. Jets’ top gun Ryan Reeves missed a breakaway in the first minute of the third period, then saw Cory Reid score his third goal of the game shortly after to give the Regals an 8-6 lead. Just over a minute later, the Regals took consecutive penalties putting them two men down but they killed off both. Shantz added his fifth and sixth goals later in the period and it was over. Lawrence Anderson and Craig Van de Light, who scored with one second left, added the other goals for the Regals. Frazier Caron scored three goals and added two assists for the Jets, who lost to the Regals for the 23rd straight game since 2003. Brendan Birnie-Browne added two goals while Brad Bablitz and Ryan Reeves added the others. Reeves also added four assists. The Regals then lost their second consecutive game in as many weekends to the Grande Prairie Athletics 8-5 Nov. 15. It was a bitter pill to swallow as the visiting Regals led 5-4 after two periods before the roof caved in. A barrage of penalties led to the Athletics rallying with three power play goals before the final goal was potted into an empty net. Even the normally mild-mannered Shantz was tossed from the game with 6:39 left while exercising his constitutional right to free speech to all but put the Regals’ fire out. Curtis Tipler scored two power play goals, both in the third period, and added two assists to lead the Athletics. Garret Larson and Rod Bowers each scored twice and added an assist while Scott Taje, who missed the game in High Prairie Nov. 8 due to a suspension, and captain Kelly McLeod added the others. Shantz, Rollie Gladue, Reid, Tim Cunningham and T.J. Cunningham replied for the Regals. The Athletics lead 3-2 after one period and outshot the Regals 18-10. The Regals rebounded in the second period to take a 5-4 lead despite being outshot 16-12. Goaltender Cannon Cunningham, playing in his first game of the season for the Regals, kept the game close. The Athletics outshot the Regals 52-27 in the game and clicked on three of eight power play chances. The Regals were blanked on only two chances as they took 40 minutes in penalties to six for the A’s.

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