There were four games played across the NCHL last week with the North Division lead again changing hands and the South Division seeing two teams sitting at the top.
On Saturday, the Red Deer Rustlers downed the hometown Devon Barons 6-3, breaking up a close 2-1 game with four goals in the 3rd period. Red Deer got goals from Tyler Berkholtz 2-1-3, Cory Pritz 2-1-3, Jonny Li, and Nate Higgins. Goaltender Devon Carroll picked up his first win of the season turning away 31 of 34 Devon shots Replying for Devon were Trevor Posch, Eric Deleeuw and Brandon Powlik . Goaltender Jordan Cooke took the loss in net.
Also on Saturday, Morinville, fresh off of their first win of the season, were home to the Westlock Warriors. Westlock had a 5-3 lead halfway through the third period when Morinville struck for two goals in 3 minutes to tie the game and force OT. Nothing was determined in OT so the teams went to a shootout where Westlock ultimately won. Garry Mindus of the Warriors had a big night with a hat trick as well as a shoot out goal. Also tallying for the Warriors were Kyle Dronyk, and Landon Lavallee. Goaltender Keegan Richards picked up his third win of the season. Scoring for the Kings were Dylan Long 1-1-2, Cole Gupta 1-1-2, Wayne Gatza Jr. 1-2-3, Zach Giacobbo 1-1-2 and Eric Patterson. Garrett Storms took the loss. With the win, coupled with Devon's loss, the Warriors took over top spot in the North Division.
The last game on Saturday saw the hometown Lacombe Generals dump visiting Camrose Bruins 11-3. The line of Cam Maclise 1-3-4, Thomas Beretta 3-3-6 and Jamie Johnson 2-2-4 ran rampant putting up a total of 14 points between them. Also scoring for the Generals were TJ Brown, Colin Zimmer 2-2-4, Craig Gans 1-1-2, Jared Williams, and Scott Doucet 1-2-3. Mac Engel picked up his fifth win of the season. Replying for the Bruins were Ashton Kelly, William Raymond, and Jarod Hovde Curtis Skip took the loss.
In the only game on Sunday, Morinville travelled east to hook up with the hometown Bonnyville Pontiacs, who were fresh off of a win last week over Westlock. This game was over early as the Pontiacs ran up a 6-1 first period lead and never took their foot off of the gas. Pontiac's veteran Denis Cadrin 2-4-6, Coltan Buchta 1-5-6 and Brinson Pasichnuk 3-3-6 lead the way offensively as they each had big games. Also scoring for the hometown were Bailey Lonsberry, Captain Lucas Isley 2-2-4, Ryan Piche 2-2-4, Chase Fischer and Dyson Roy 2-0-2. Ryan Weitzel in his first NCHL start picked up the win turning away 20 of the 23 shots he faced Scoring for the Kings were Dylan Long, Aaron Patten and Matt Benko. Kings starter Garrett Storms was mercifully pulled after the first period and Ryen Papirny made his NCHL debut in relief.
There are 5 games on the schedule for this weekend. On Friday, Bonnyville travels to Camrose to take on the Bruins The Bruins need a win to stay in touch of the teams ahead of them in the standings A Bonnyville win gets them over .500. for the season and keeps them close to the teams ahead of them. On Saturday there are four games Camrose goes back to back as they head to Penhold to tangle with the Rustlers. A battle of the Division leaders is set for Lacombe as the Generals host the Westlock Warriors. Devon heads north to Morinville to take on the Kings and the last game has Bonnyville on the road to tangle with the well rested Wetaskiwin Longhorns.
The league will wrap up its 2023 portion of the schedule next weekend with four games before the league takes it's Christmas break.
WESTLOCK
CAMROSE
STONY PLAIN
DEVON
LACOMBE
WETASKIWIN
INNISFAIL
TOFIELD
MORINVILLE
