Chris Clegg
South Peace News

If the Edson Eagles think they are going to run away and hide from the High Prairie Red Wings in their battle for first place, they just might have to take care of business themselves when the two teams meet.

The Red Wings disposed of two opponents last week to keep pace with the Eagles in the National Junior Hockey League Alberta North Division.

As they have done all season, the Red Wings have won each game against every opponent except Edson. They swept a pair of home games last weekend by first outscoring the Lac La Biche Lakers 7-5 and the Alberta South Division leading Crowsnest Crush 4-3.

The 11-1-0-0 Eagles (22 points) and 8-2-1-0 Red Wings (17 points) have perfect records against the rest of the league proving they are the league’s marquee teams.

On Nov. 1, The Red Wings struck first against the Lakers when Noah Cunningham opened the scoring in the third minute. Just before the 12-minute mark, the Red Wings scored twice in one second according to the official gamesheet (obviously an error). Barrett Butcher and Ty Cunningham scored the goals.

Raiden Perkins replied for the Lakers before the end of the period to make it 3-1.

In the second period, the teams split six goals. Jordan Anderson and Butcher gave the Red Wings a 5-1 lead and it looked like the game was a laugher. But credit to the Lakers, they rallied on goals from Perkins and Zach Beiner to make it 5-3.

But each time the Lakers drew close, the Red Wings poured cold water on the fire. Butcher scored his third goal of the game to restore the three-goal lead until Rob Rendle’s goal with six seconds left in the period made it 6-4.

The Lakers were finally able to pull to within one goal in the third. Perkins scored at the 3:12 mark and it was game on!

However, the Red Wings stood firm. Nolan Noskey scored before the midway point of the period and the teams battled through a scoreless last 11:28.

The Lakers outshot the Red Wings 34-29.

The next night the Red Wings played their first game against an Alberta South Division opponent and it was the leading Crowsnest Crush coming to town with their 9-2 record.

The Crush served notice that the Red Wings home ice record was in jeopardy – the Red Wings have won five and suffered one overtime loss so far this season – when Raiden Peters opened the scoring. With just over three minutes left, Cole Medicine Shield made it 2-0.

Kris Courtorielle’s goal with 1:44 left in the period put the Red Wings on the board.

In the second period, Peters gave the Crush a 3-1 lead.

However, the Red Wings found their game. Tate Paul and Kaden Desjarlais scored to make it 3-3 to set up an exciting third.

It was Noah Cunningham’s goal just past the halfway that proved to be the difference.

The Red Wings outshot the Crush 41-37 in the contest, including 16-11 in the third period when they needed the go-ahead goal.

The Red Wings play the Redwater Pioneers in a home-and-home series this coming weekend. Redwater hosts the first game Nov. 8, the teams return to High Prairie Nov. 9.