It’s time for another Three Stars of the Week, which is brought to you by Paull Funeral Home and Crematorium. Every Monday we will be awarding three players who had a big week and giving them stars. We will be doing this week-to-week with points accumulating throughout the season. The top three will players will be recognized and presented an award during our final home game of the season.
The Swan Valley Stampeders split a mini-series with the Selkirk Steelers on home ice this past weekend. The Stampeders lost 3-2 Friday night and defeated the Steelers 3-2 in a come-from-behind, overtime win Saturday night at the Centennial Arena.
The Stampeders continue to struggle with stringing together wins and have had a hell of a time trying to get back to .500 hockey recently. It has been a season of ups and downs but one thing is for sure is the play of 19-year-old goaltender Kobe Grant. The youngster from British Columbia took the loss in net Friday night but had a huge bounce-back game Saturday night stopping 23/25 shots and collecting his seventh win of the season.
The Stamps gave up a power play goal in the first period, two goals 50 seconds apart in the second period and couldn’t find any offence in the third period falling 3-2 to the Steelers in regulation. Callum Fortin and Brad Fortin each collected a goal each while Cody Barnes picked up a pair of assists in the loss.
Saturday night’s game had a bit of a different flavour to it and a better outcome. Swan Valley found themselves trailing 2-0 in the first and the second as the Stampeders couldn’t solve Cole Plowman. It was Barnes who snapped one home 2:53 into the third period to kick start the comeback. Quinn Mulder tied the game just over three and a half minutes which forced overtime. Mulder came up big Saturday night as he set up the game-winner by Adam Rajsigl 2:19 into the extra frame.
Before Friday night’s game, Head Coach and General Manager Barry Wolff acquired 19-year-old goaltender Brock Moroz from the Winkler Flyers.
Moroz posted a 3.36 GAA and a .863 SV% in two games this season with the Flyers. Prior to that, the 6’1” 161lbs La Salle product posted a 5.45 GAA and a .822 SV% with the Pembina Valley Twisters of the MMJHL (2020-21) and dressed in 27 games for the Pembina Valley Hawks U18 AAA posting a 2.88 GAA and a .914 SV% (2019-20).
“With Dylan Black on the IR (Injured Reserve), we needed to add a backup goaltender moving forward,” said Wolff. “We aren’t sure how long Black will be out so we needed to add a key piece to fill that void.”
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 (Dec. 5 – Dec. 12)
3rd Star
Quinn Mulder becomes the first Stampeder in the history of the three stars to remain on the list for three consecutive weeks, and rightfully so. The 20-year-old continues to impress every time he steps on the ice and this weekend was no different, especially Saturday night’s victory. The Terrace, B.C. product collected the game-tying goal and set up a highlight reel overtime winner against Selkirk Saturday in front of the Swan Valley faithful at the Centennial Arena. The 6’2” 200 lbs. forward sits first in team scoring with 25 points (10G, 15A) in 28 games.
2nd Star
Cody Barnes returns to the Three Star Selections after a brief hiatus. The 20-year-old collected a goal and two assists in a weekend split with the Selkirk Steelers. The Kelowna, B.C. product added a pair of assists on both Callum and Brad Fortin’s goals in a 3-2 loss Friday night and kick-started the Stampeder comeback in the third period of Saturday night’s 3-2 overtime win. Barnes now sits fourth in team scoring with 19 points (11G, 8A) in 23 games.
1st Star
Kobe Grant regains the first-star award after another rock-solid weekend in the Stampeder crease. The 19-year-old from Vernon, B.C. took a 35 save loss Friday but rebounded with a 23 save win Saturday. Grant posted a 2.46 GAA and a .921 SV% this past weekend and now sits 13th in the league with 3.37 GAA, a .902 SVS% and a 7-8-0-0 record.
The Stampeders will have a few days off to rest and prepare for their final two games before the Christmas break. The Stampeders will close out the month of December on the road in Portage on both Friday, Dec.17 and Saturday, Dec. 18 against the Terries at Stride Place.
STANDINGS (Point Leaders)
10 – Carter Cockburn
8 – Cody Barnes
7 – Quinn Mulder
5 – Kobe Grant
4 – Callum Fortin
4 – Jackson Betcher
4 – Adam Rajsigl
3 – Tyler Park
3 – Jacob Paler-Chow
3 – Justin Keck
3 – Noah Fladager
2 – Dylan Black
1 – Trey Sauder
1 – Myles Mason
1 – Darius Makse