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Sports: Queue the comeback!
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Peace River Stampeders’ goaltender Kenton Yasinski watches the puck bounce past him into the net for the game-winning goal in a game at High Prairie Nov. 12. Kelly Cunningham (not in photo) scored the goal, which erased an 8-3 deficit as the Regals won 9-8. Defending is Brett Campbell.
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Chris Clegg
for South Peace News
The High Prairie Regals could not have written a better script in winning their first game of the North Peace Hockey League season Nov. 12.
The Regals spotted the visiting and previously undefeated Peace River Stampeders an 8-3 second period lead before storming back with six straight goals in the final 21:05 to win 9-8.
Steve Thunder, Craig Van de Ligt, Lloyd Ah-Kim-Nachie, Kelly Cunningham and Eli Cunningham joined the Regals before the game to bolster the lineup. It looked as though the additions would not pay immediate dividends but the Regals’ never-say-die attitude prevailed.
The Stampeders led 3-2 after one period, 5-2 and 8-3 in the second. Aaron Parenteau led the way with three goals while Mitch Kohut added a pair. James Hagan, Darren Noskey and John Lewis added the others. The Stampeders peppered starting goaltender Chris Prpich with 20 shots in the first period and chased him from the net after the seventh goal in the second.
Kelly Cunningham, Rollie Gladue and Eli Cunningham had scored for the Regals before their rally began when Steven Thunder scored with 1:05 left in the second to make it 8-4.
“I told the guys after the second period we were going to win the game,” said Lee Hunt, interim coach.
Indeed, the Stampeders were slowing down and the Regals took full advantage. They scored five goals in the third period on only 10 shots.
Trent Meyaard and Tim Cunningham closed the gap to 8-6 in the first five minutes. Just past the midway mark, the Regals struck for two more goals to tie the game in 30 seconds. Steven Thunder and Ah-Kim-Nachie did the honours before Kelly Cunningham’s goal with 3:38 left sealed the deal.
Midget goaltender Justin Olansky replaced Prpich and recorded his first NPHL win. While Olansky didn’t have to make any spectacular saves, he did make every save needed to keep his club in the game and give them a chance to come back.
The Regals went to Dawson Creek Nov. 14 in their other game played last week and were blasted 11-1 at the hands of the Canucks.
Chris Desjarais gave the Canucks the early lead until Tyrel D’Aoust scored just before the midway point of the first period to tie the game.
From there it was all downhill. Desjarlais scored again, this time on a power play, and the Canucks never looked back.
What rubbed salt in the wounds was the fact the Regals were going on a power play late in the first period with a chance to tie the game. However, Canucks’ veterans Dustin Kersey and Adam Loncan scored short-handed goals 1:04 apart and it was over.
By the time it was over, Desjarlais and Kersey each scored hat-tricks while Jeff Taylor added a pair. Evan Boire, Josh Schellenberg and Loncan added the others.
Special teams were the difference as the Regals did not score on six power play chances while the Canucks clicked on two of six chances. In addition, they scored four short-handed goals including two by Kersey with others by Loncan and Schellenberg.
The Regals play twice this week, both on the road. They first travel to Valleyview Nov. 19 to play the Jets, the travel to Fairview Nov. 21 to play the Kings.
The next home game is Nov. 26 when the Regals host the Jets.
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