|
Pirates eliminate Regals
Chris Clegg
for South Peace News
It wasn’t supposed to end this way.
With a playoff berth on the line, the roof literally caved in on the High Prairie Regals Feb. 6 in Falher.
The Regals had battled back from a 5-1 second period deficit to tie the game 5-5 with under seven minutes left. Facing a “win and you’re in” scenario to make the playoffs, everything was on the line.
Then things went horribly wrong. Lawrence Anderson and Vern Cunningham Jr. took minor penalties putting the Pirates up two men. The Regals successfully killed off the penalties and still had a chance.
But with 2:47 left, Cunningham was sent off for tripping. With 1:41 left, Anderson was sent off for interference and slapped with a game misconduct putting the Regals down two men again.
Thus, power play goals from Jason Bouchard and Matt Maisonneuve gave the Pirates a 7-5 win and bounced the Regals from the playoffs.
The Regals walked off the ice in disgust and allegedly tossed water bottles at the officials. Coach Jim McLean, Tim Cunningham and Dylan Cunningham all received gross misconducts for their actions. McLean denies the allegation directed toward him.
The auspicious end to the season ruined a final push to make the postseason which saw the Regals win six of eight games to give themselves a chance.
Bouchard scored three goals and added three assists in the win while Maisonneuve scored twice and added two assists. David Gelinas and Kurtis Swanson, this year’s penalty leader in the NPHL, added the others.
Lawrence Anderson, Vern Cunningham Jr., Steven Thunder, Kelly Cunningham and Tyler Letendre replied for the Regals, who were outshot 32-31.
The Pirates enjoyed period leads of 3-1 and 5-4 and scored on two of six power play chances while the Regals clicked on one of four chances.
Two nights earlier, the Lakeland Eagles came to town and won in a shootout 7-6; however, they forfeited the game afterwards for playing Darcy McKenzie, who was suspended for the game.
Nonetheless, the game was highly entertaining and featured the first NPHL shootout on Sports Palace ice. The Eagles won the shootout 3-0 on goals from Dame Lamouche Jr., Junior Anderson and Travis Cunningham. Junior Anderson’s goal was a thing of pure beauty, after using a Peter Forsberg move and turning the blade of his stock to flip the puck high past goaltender Ian Chwok.
However, the game will go into the books as a forfeit and, technically, Regals fans still await the first shootout on home ice.
|
Lakeland’s Darcy McKenzie crosses in front of the High Prairie net and goaltender Ian Chwok during action Feb. 4. Although the Eagles won in a shootout 7-6, they later forfeited the game because McKenzie was suspended and ineligible to play. Checking McKenzie is Regals defenceman Brad Trimble. Lakeland’s James Tallman of the Eagles is behind the net.
|
< Previous
Home
Next >
|
