The Swan Valley Stampeders kept their perfect season alive with back-to-back wins over the OCN Blizzard this past weekend, pushing their record to 4-0. They won both their games in as dramatic a fashion as one could think of.
In case you missed it, the Stampeders went 2-0 against their northern rival winning 5-4 in overtime Friday, Oct. 16 and followed that up with a 5-4 win on home ice Saturday, Oct. 17.
Friday’s game saw the Stampeders trail on two separate occasions before tying the game 4-4, sending it to overtime. Alex Danis played hero scoring with 41 seconds left in the extra frame. Saturday’s game had the Stampeders trailing 4-1 with just over nine minutes remaining in the game. A five minute major penalty assessed to the Blizzard aided in their come-back, scoring four power play goals in just over five minutes to win 5-4. Josh Beauchemin (1) and Jackson Zloty (2), would score to tie the game 4-4, and Alex Danis played hero once again, scoring with 25 seconds left on the clock.
“I have never seen anything like it,” said Stampeders Director of Marketing Cody Manchester. “The ups and downs of Junior hockey were on full display Saturday night. I mean, being down 3-1 and the nail in the coffin should have been the 4-1 goal with nine minutes left. But sports can be funny like that, never say never as they say. The next five and a half minutes were wild and I have never seen anything like it. The electricity from the fans and the guys on the bench was something special. Something that I’ll remember forever.”
Mikael Foucher backstopped his team to their overtime win Friday night, while Dylan Black got the nod Saturday night, stopping 32/36 shots he faced for his first MJHL win in his first start with the Stampeders.
Scoring? Well that does not seem to be an issue so far this season. The Stamps’ score in bunches and this past weekend was testament to that. Over the course of two games the Stampeders out scored their opponent 10-8 and 22-13 over the course of their four game mini-series.
Penalties? Yes they seem to like the box a bit too much this season which could cost them down the road. The team has collectively racked up 101 penalty minutes, which puts them fourth overall in that department. Average that out and it’s just over 25 minutes, per game, sitting in the penalty box in the first four games. That is something that needs to change if they want to continue being successful moving forward.
The “Three Stars of the Week” is brought to you by Paull Funeral Home & Crematorium, and will be awarded week-to-week with points being collected throughout the season. The top three will players will be recognized at the end of the season.
Three stars point system is as follows:
1st Star = 3 points
2nd Star = 2 points
3rd Star = 1 point
Check back every Monday for the Paull Funeral Home & Crematorium, Three
Stars of the week.
THREE STARS (October 11 – October 18)
3rd Star
Haydn Delorme makes his first appearance on the Three Stars of the Week and is certainly deserving of it. The 20-year-old has quietly put up nine points over the course of his first four games, propelling him into top spot in league scoring. The product of Port Moody, BC collected one goal and four assists, helping his team pick up two more wins. The rugged forward was acquired during the off-season from the Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL.
2nd Star
Jackson Zloty hasn’t been in the valley more than a month and he is already the talk of the town. The 20-year-old brings speed and skill to the Stampeder offence, helping him collect four points this weekend moving him into eighth in league scoring. The native of Calgary, AB was instrumental in both the teams come-from-behind wins Friday and Saturday against OCN.
1st Star
Alex Danis takes over this week’s first star after scoring back-to-back game winners Friday and Saturday against the Blizzard. The 19-year-old has been a massive part of the Stampeders offence early on this season. The Calgary, AB product’s quick release and speed helped the youngster collect four points (3G, 1A) this weekend, moving him into fourth in league scoring.
The Stampeders will resume their regular season schedule this Friday night (Oct 23.) with a new opponent, the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. They Stamps’ will return to home ice Saturday (Oct 24.) to face the same Wolverines. Both games get underway at 7 p.m.. Friday nights game can be heard on GX94 Radio and is also available on HockeyTV.
STANDINGS (Points)
3 – Mikael Foucher
2 – Quinn Mulder
1 – Alex Danis