Sports: Regals' heart still beating
Chris Clegg
for South Peace News
Hopes of playing in the North Peace Hockey League playoffs this season are hanging by a thread for the High Prairie Regals.
But a thread may be all they need to punch their ticket into the postseason.
The Regals (5-17-0-0) trail the forth place Valleyview Jets (6-13-1-0) by three points in the race for the final playoff berth in the NPHL’s East Division. The Regals have two games left – both against Valleyview Feb. 2 and Feb. 4 – while the Jets have four games left. Other than the two games against the Regals, the Jets can punch their ticket if they upset first place Falher Jan. 31 at home or win in Dawson Creek Feb. 5, but both are unlikely scenarios.
The Regals kept their slim playoff hopes alive by blasting the Jets 8-0 at the Sports Palace Jan. 24. Three nights later, they were on the other end of a beating as they fell 13-2 to the Pirates in Falher.
The big story in the 8-0 whitewash over the Jets was goaltender Kyle Shantz, who stopped 27 shots in posting the club’s second shutout in the past 22 years. The only other Regal to record a shutout in that span was Sandford Lamouche, who blanked the Manning Comets 4-0 Dec. 9, 2006.
Meanwhile, his teammates were piling up the goals. Kody Calhoon opened the scoring only two minutes into the contest and it would be all the offence the Regals would need. Dylan Cunningham, Tyler Shantz and Nick Anderson all scored before the end of the first period and the rout was on.
In the second period Lawrence Anderson, Ira Gladue and Steven Thunder each scored while Dylan Cunningham added his second of the night thus becoming the only player to score twice during the game.
The Regals special teams were perfect on the night. They scored on all three of their power play chances and killed off all five short-handed situations. In fact, Gladue’s goal was scored short-handed.
The Regals outshot the Jets 53-27.
In Falher, the Pirates showed little mercy on their opponents. They led 3-0 after one period and 7-0 in the second before Lawrence Anderson broke the goose egg. Lance Gauchier would add a third period goal to account for the offence.
Jeff Chalifoux, who took a thunderous hit the last time the Pirates were in town, led the way with three goals to gain a small measure of revenge. Denis Rochon and Daniel Aubin each added a pair.
Aaron Parenteau scored once and added four assists while Shawn Gervais had one goal and three assists.
Travis Chalifoux, Jason Bouchard, Nick Laporte and Jared Zawacki added the other goals.
The Regals were outshot 51-18.
The Regals travel to Valleyview to play the Jets in a must-win game, assuming the Jets lose to Falher Jan. 31. They return home to face the same Jets Feb. 4.
An overtime loss or shootout loss against the Pirates or Canucks does the Jets no good as they would lose the tiebreaker to the Regals.
Cunningham Nearing Title
High Prairie’s Raymond Cunningham is nearing the “dubious” honour of leading the NPHL in penalty minutes this season.
Cunningham, with 128 minutes in penalties, leads Grimshaw’s Brad Kerr by 21 penalty minutes in the race to become the league’s sin bin leader.
If Cunningham does retain his lead, he will become the first Regal to lead the NPHL in penalty minutes since at least the early 1990s.
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