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 completed a weekend sweep of the Steinbach Pistons, winning 5-4 in a shootout Friday, Jan. 14 and followed that up with a 3-2 regulation win Saturday, Jan. 15.
The Stampeders have certainly turned a corner and are looking for one thing, a spot in the upcoming 2022 playoffs. Swan Valley has come back from the Christmas Break with a completely new look on the ice and a new mental focus that hasn’t gone unnoticed. The discipline play of all 20 Stampeders nightly has improved their overall outcomes on games and allows their bench to stay fresh.
One major thing we cannot forget is the solid goaltending of both Kobe Grant and Dylan Black who give their team a chance to win every night they take over the crease.
Cody Barnes had a huge weekend for his club scoring two huge goals for his team on the road in Steinbach Friday night. He opened the scoring on the power play, added an assist and then tied the game early in the third period that sent the game to overtime and then a shootout. Trey Sauder and Deepkaran Hans added a goal apiece Friday night that helped their team to a huge comeback win. Hans collected a goal and an assist, and scored the shootout winner in his debut as a Stampeder, needless to say, a huge night for the newcomer.
Saturday’s game saw fewer goals scored and that was because of a full team effort blocking shots. Swan Valley was able to score a goal in each of the periods (Sauder in the first, Barnes in the second and Myles Mason in the third), and used their well-structured play to fend off anything Steinbach brought resulting in a huge 3-2 win at T.G. Smith Centre.
Swan Valley has now done something they haven’t been able to accomplish all year and that’s win three straight games. It’s no surprise that the stampeders had struggled in the early stages of the season and the past four games have been a completely different outcome against the top two teams in the East Division. The Stamps’ have strung together seven points in their last four games (three wins/shootout loss), and have catapulted themselves into third place in the West Divison, five games back of Wayway for third place.
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 (Jan 9. – Jan. 16)
3rd Star
Myles Mason had himself a great weekend for the Stampeders collecting two points against the Pistons Saturday night. The 19-year-old picked up an assist on Trey Sauder’s opening goal and then scored the game-winner 47 seconds into the third period. Mason sits 16th in team scoring with 6 points (3G, 3A).
2nd Star
Trey Sauder has ripped off the training wheels and has brought his “A” game since returning from the Christmas Break. The 18-year-old Swan River product collected a goal in each of the Stampeders games this past weekend. The 6’0” 190 lbs. brings his size and grit every time he steps on the ice. Sauder now sits tenth in team scoring with 13 points (4G, 9A).
1st Star
Cody Barnes put his team on his back and said follow me this weekend collecting four points in two games against the top team in the East. Barnes scored a power play marker in the second period Friday night. The 6’5” 220 lbs forward then picked up an assist on Deepkaran Hans’s first goal and tied the game 4-4 in the third period. He followed that up with another power play marker Saturday night in Steinbach. The Kelowna, B.C. native now sits third in team scoring with 25 points (10G, 15A).
Honourable mentions this week go to Kobe Grant (4.00 GAA, .886 SV%) and Dylan Black (2.00 GAA, .935 SV%) for their solid play in net, Deepkaran Hans (1G, 1A) and Lare Pahtayken for being an all-around good guy.
The Stampeders’ next action will be Wednesday, Jan. 19 against the Dauphin Kings at the Centennial Arena. Wednesday’s game is a proud presentation of Swan River Key Chevrolet Buick GMC. Gifts to be handed out as you enter, gift giveaways throughout the game and a ceremonial puck drop will all take place. Tickets for Wednesday night’s game can be purchased online at stampedershockey.com as well as your 50/50 tickets. Only 250 people are allowed in due to the current public health restrictions. If tickets are still available online or at Patty’s Sports Excellence, that means you are still permitted to attend. Please buy early and avoid disappointment.
Don’t forget, the Stamps Cash Lotto is well underway. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased from any Stampeder board member, from Patty’s Sports Excellence, Cook & Cooke or the Swan Valley Star and times. You can also purchase by calling 204.281.4255 or visit our site directly at – stampedershockey.square.site/cash-lotto – please use the promo code LOTTO for free mail delivery. You MUST purchase a Stamps Cash Lotto ticket in order to purchase the added on 50/50 ticket. The draw will take place Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 after our home game against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
STANDINGS (Point Leaders)
13 – Carter Cockburn
10 – Cody Barnes
9 – Kobe Grant
8 – Quinn Mulder
5 – Adam Rajsigl
4 – Callum Fortin
3 – Tyler Park
3 – Jacob Paler-Chow
3 – Justin Keck
2 – Collin Jennings
2 – Dylan Black
1 – Trey Sauder
1 – Myles Mason
1 – Darius Makse