Slumping Regals fall into second place

High Prairie’s T.J. Cunningham, left, tries to avoid the check of Valleyview’s Stephane Simard Dec. 11. Cunningham, recently returning from an injury, and his mates lost for the first time in 23 games to Valleyview 7-5.

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

In dire times, give some credit where credit is due. Only six High Prairie Regals bothered to make the trip to Hythe for their North Peace Hockey League match Dec. 13. Lack of players prompted coach Lee Hunt to don the blades one more time. While the 9-0 pasting was predictable – partially because of the order of referee Marty Tingstad to play straight time - credit must be given to the players who attended and relieved the hockey club of $4,000 in fines and/or possible expulsion from the league. Had the Regals not gone to Hythe, they would have had to pay the league a $2,000 fine and forward $2,000 to the Mustangs because lack of players is not a valid excuse for postponing a game. Goaltender Cannon Cunningham, Shane Smith, Davis Baroldi, Lawrence Anderson, Brad Kerr and Lance Gauchier were the other Regals to go. While others have injuries, it’s a safe bet not all of the 32 players carded had reasonable excuses to not go prompting the question of just how committed they are to playing competitive senior hockey. The Regals are meeting Dec. 16 to try and get their house back in order. Former Regal Justin Paul was more than ready to rub salt in the wounds of the Regals as he scored four goals. Darby Wallan, Marty Jones, Rob Takaka, Jay Christie and Scott Bowen added the others. Hythe outshot High Prairie 34-14 and scored on both power play chances while the Regals were blanked on four chances. Hythe enjoyed period leads of 3-0 and 5-0 while sending the Regals to their eighth loss in 10 games. Things were not any better two nights earlier on Sports Palace ice. The Valleyview Jets rolled into town and ended a 22-game overall losing streak to High Prairie with a 7-5 win. The Jets also ended a 13-game losing streak and 14-game winless streak in High Prairie. The Jets led 2-1 after one period but only because of the heroics of goaltender Cannon Cunningham. He stopped three breakaways and at least three other point-blank opportunities as the Regals’ defensive play as a team was horrible. Although the Regals scored three straight goals in the second period it was only a matter of time before the Jets starting clicking given the chances they were getting. In the third, the Jets rattled off five goals in the first 18 minutes. Frazier Caron led the way with three goals while Cory Burnside, Tracy Stewart, Brendon Birnie-Browne and David Schultz added the others. Tyler Shantz and T.J. Cunningham both scored twice and added two assists to lead the Regals while Craig Van de Ligt added the other. Valleyview outshot the Regals 39-33 including 14-7 in the third period. They scored on one of four power play chances while the Regals were scoreless in two attempts. Shantz, however, did score a short-handed goal. The Regals host the Peace River Stampeders Dec. 18 at 8:30 p.m. before their traditional home-and-home Christmas break series with Lakeland. The Stamps and Regals are tied for first in the East Division with nine points but Peace River has three games in hand.

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