Regals on a roll heading into playoffs

High Prairie’s Davis Baroldi, centre, slides into Peace River goaltender Lance Benoit as defenceman Graham Campbell arrives too late. Baroldi didn’t score on the play but did on three others to lead the Regals to a 7-2 win at the Sports Palace Feb. 7.

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

The good news is the High Prairie Regals have regained their form entering the North Peace Hockey League playoffs. The bad news is, their late season sweep of the Peace River Stampeders means they will play either the Grande Prairie Athletics or Spirit River Rangers in the NPHL Quarter-Final series beginning Feb. 17. The Regals ensured a date with either West Division powerhouse after defeating Peace River on home ice 7-2 in the season finale Feb. 7. Had the Regals lost, they would have ensured a quarter-final date with the East Division champion Falher Pirates. However, the Regals – knowing exactly what was on the line – skated onto the ice and played the game they way it should be. The same could not be said for the Stampeders, who put in lackluster effort. They faced the same fate as High Prairie but will still need help to play Falher in the quarter-finals. Why the desire to play Falher? Arguably a much weaker opponent, far less travel expense and the huge fan base Falher promises to bring when the Pirates Nation comes to town. But such is not to be. The Regals began the week with chances of first place still in their sights. However, they lost at Valleyview 8-3 Jan. 29. Coupled with Falher’s 11-4 win over Fairview Jan. 31, it eliminated any chance of placing first. The Jets and Regals were tied after one period but the Jets scored twice in the second period and three more times in the third to take a commanding 7-2 lead. The teams traded goals in the final seven minutes to end the scoring. Ryan Reeves, Blaine Bablitz and Frazier Caron each scored twice for the Jets while Ken Breland and David Schultz added the other goals. Lance Gauchier, Rollie Gladue and Blake Myatt replied for the Regals, who were outshot 48-28. All of the Regals’ goals were scored on the power play. The Regals were three-for-six while the Jets were one-for-five. Sam Dean recorded the win while Kyle Shantz suffered the loss. The Regals entered the season-ending home-and-home series with the Stampeders by winning a 7-6 thriller in Peace River Feb. 6. With the Regals’ win and Falher’s 10-7 win over Valleyview the same night, the Stampeders were eliminated in the race for first while Falher clinched the division. The Regals led 3-1 in the second period but watched the Stampeders take a 4-3 lead by the end of two periods. Before seven minutes had elapsed in the third, the Stampeders had regained a 6-5 advantage. However, Rocky Collins’ power play goal with nine minutes left tied the game and Davis Baroldi scored with 21 seconds left to win the game. It was Baroldi’s third goal of the night. Collins ended the night with two goals while Craig Van de Ligt also added a pair. Nick Laporte and Aaron Parenteau each scored twice for Peace River while Terry Houlder and Chris Houlder added the others. The Regals were one-for-four on the power play; the Stampeders scoreless in three chances. The Regals peppered 51 shots on losing goaltender Lance Benoit while Cannon Cunningham stopped 35 of 41 shots to record the win. The Regals returned home and whipped the same Stampeders 7-2. Although the game script was far different, the scoresheet was strikingly similar. Baroldi scored three goals and Van de Ligt two for the second straight night. David Martinson, with his first NPHL goal, and Gauchier added the other goals. Chris Houlder and Tyler Valin replied for the Stampeders. The Regals led 1-0 after one period on Martinson’s goal. After a scoreless second, the Regals scored five goals in the fist 16 minutes to lead 6-0. Cannon Cunningham, who has never recorded a shutout in his NPHL career, was only 3:39 away from the feat before Valin spoiled the party. The Regals recorded over 50 shots on the goal for the second straight game as they outshot the Stampeders 56-38. As it was the night before, Cunningham was the winner, Benoit the loser. The NPHL playoffs begin with the Preliminary Series best-of-three starting Feb. 10. Hythe plays Fairview while Lakeland plays Valleyview. The two winners advance to the final eight and the NPHL Quarter-finals. The Regals will play either Grande Prairie or Spirit River in the NPHL Quarter-finals beginning Feb. 17. If Hythe defeats Fairview the NPHL Quarter-Final series are as follows: the Lakeland-Valleyview winner will play Fort St. John, Peace River will play Falher, High Prairie will play Grande Prairie, and Hythe will play Spirit River. However, if Fairview defeats Hythe the NPHL Quarter-Final series are as follows: the Lakeland-Valleyview winner will play Fort St. John, Fairview will play Falher, Peace River will play Grande Prairie and High Prairie will play Spirit River. Regardless, the Regals are tentatively scheduled to play their first home playoff game Thursday, Feb. 19 at 8:30 p.m. Fans are reminded ticket prices for adults rise to $10 in the playoffs.

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