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 being collected 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 pair of weekend games against the Neepawa Titans to close out their four-game mini-series.
This week’s theme – It comes in waves. What am I talking about? The Stampeder offence. All season long it’s been up and down (like a wave) and it’s something that needs to show up on a more consistent basis.
We also talked about keeping the puck out of your own net, something the Stampeders failed to do Friday nightat the Yellowhead Centre in Neepawa. The team found themselves trailing 2-0 very early into the game. Dharan Cap and Cody Barnes helped pull the stampeders even before the end of the first period but the Titans proved to be the better team on home ice. After Quinn Mulder gave the Stampeders a 3-2 lead, it was all Neepawa from there on outscoring five more times to beat Swan Valley 7-4. The loss dropped the Stampeders two spots in the West Division standings.
Friday night’s 7-4 loss left a sour taste in the player’s mouths and they corrected that wrong as they came out flying Saturday on home ice. Here is the part where we talk about it coming in waves a little more. The Stampeders offence chased Titans goaltender Emerick Demers from the net before the four-minute mark of the first period Saturday night by scoring three straight goals. Quinn Mulder, Jamie Valentino and Cody Barnes all scored within 2:31 of one another proving the offence can get it done. Adam Rajsigl and Valentino picked up goals in the second period that was riddled with penalties against the hometown team. The penalty kill did a marvellous job of protecting their lead and not giving in to the Titans’ quick-strike power play. Swan Valley would add a pair of goals in the third period en route to a 7-3 win over Neepawa. Also, a huge shoutout to goaltender Dylan Black who stood on his head stopping 40/43 shots he faced to collect his fourth win of the year.
The Stampeders will need to ride the wave of success into Friday night’s contest against a new opponent, the Virden Oil Capitals. A team that sits tied with Swan Valley in the West Division standings. The perfect time for the Stampeders to come together and find a way to distance themselves in the standings.
Also, another first happened this past weekend. Dharan Cap found the back of the net during the first period of Friday night’s 7-4 loss to Neepawa.
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 (Oct. 17 – Oct. 24)
3rd Star
Quinn Mulder joins the mix this week collecting a pair of goals against the Titans. The 20-year-old is your new third star of the week. The Terrace, BC native has finally found his scoring touch. He has now scored a goal in each of his last three games. The 6’1” 165 lbs forward collected a goal in each of the Stampeders games against Neepawa this past weekend.
2nd Star
Jamie Valentino cooled off just a bit this past week, just enough for him to slip down to the second star of the week. Don’t get me wrong, the 19-year-old from Thompson has been on fire for the past three weeks and is helping his team’s offence in a huge way. The 6’2” 180lbs shifty forward added an assist in a 7-4 loss to Neepawa Friday and followed that up with a pair of goals Saturday in a 7-3 win at the Centennial Arena. Valentino now sits sixth overall in league scoring and leads his team with 19 points (8G-11A).
1st Star
Cody Barnes is your first star of the week. The 6’4” 201lbs power forward collected four goals in two games against Neepawa. The Kelowna, BC told me last week he didn’t initially think he would need two goal gifs because he “didn’t think he would score that much.” Well not only has he worn out both goal gifs in the last three weeks, he has also worn out goal lamps. The 20-year-old is red hot as he has now scored 9 goals in the last five games. He now sits 14th overall (2nd in team scoring), in league scoring with 10 goals and three assists.
Honourable mentions this week go to Adam Rajsigl and Noah Fladager who each collected a goal and added two assists. Also noteworthy, five stampeder players (Carter Cockburn, Trey Sauder, Jacob Palor-Chow, Adam Ward and Darius Makse) all collected two assists.
The Stampeders will have a four-day break in their schedule before hosting the Virden Oil Capitals (a team that is tied with the Stampeders for third overall in the West Division), Friday, Oct. 29 at 7 pm.
NOTE** Friday night’s game is Scare Away Hunger Night – bring a non-perishable food item, enter into the draw, and win a goodie bag filled with amazing items. It is also Halloween at the Corral – any child dressed up for the evening will receive a treat bag while entering from Stampeder players. They will also be asked to participate in a Halloween Costume Contest during the first intermission. The top three Halloween costumes will receive a prize, courtesy of CM Custom Moving Services and the Swan Valley Stampeders.
Game day tickets can be purchased by clicking the image below.
You can also pick up your tickets at Patty’s Sports Excellence or at the door.
Also, our online 50/50 tickets can be purchased anytime this week leading up to our home game Saturday, Oct. 29. You can purchase your tickets early by clicking the icon below 
STANDINGS (Point Leaders)
6 – Jamie Valentino
5 – Cody Barnes
4 – Adam Rajsigl
3 – Jackson Betcher
3 – Jordan Gagnon
2 – Carter Cockburn
2 – Dylan Black
1 – Noah Fladager
1 – Myles Mason
1 – Darius Makse