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.
First off, Happy Thanksgiving to every one of our Sponsors, Fans, Billet Families, Players, Staff and all Board Members.
Now on to the business portion of things. Despite the pair of losses to the Wayway Wolverines last week, the Stampeders have made strides with their young group and scoring is no longer an issue. What is an issue, and has plagued the Stampeders for years, is their inability to stay out of the Penalty box. Adding to this is giving up too many goals. The Stamps need to shore up the goals against problem quickly in order to gain traction in the standings.
The Wolverines proved to be the better team Friday, Oct. 8, defeating the Stampeders on home ice and keeping their unbeaten streak at the Waywayseecappo Arena Complex alive. Dylan Black got the start in net but was replaced roughly six minutes in after giving up three quick goals. He was replaced by Kobe Grant who played the rest of the game. When Grant took over in the crease it was a bit of a wake-up call for the Stampeders and they finally found their legs, eventually tying the game 3-3 early in the third period. That celebration lasted a bit too long as the Wolverines quick-strike offence found a way to score three goals in less than seven minutes to defeat Swan Valley 6-3.
Every once and a while you see a high-scoring game in hockey where both teams just seem to score every time they shoot the puck. Well, we all witnessed that first hand Saturday night at the Centennial Arena, where it looked like an out-of-control rec hockey game more than a Junior A game.
The two teams found themselves deadlocked at two after the first, tied at three after the second, and the game ended 8-6 for the Wolverines. One thing for sure is the Stampeders have started to find the back of the net and the scoring is coming from all over their lineup.
A couple of firsts happened over the past two games as well. Lare Pahtayken scored his first as a Stampeder on an unreal solo effort, scoring a short-handed beauty to tie the game 3-3 in Wayway. Goaltender Kobe Grant saw
his first action of the season Friday in Wayway and claimed his first official start with the Stamps’ Saturday in Swan.
These last two games did have positive outcomes even though the results were
negative. The Stampeders offence is coming around, the power play is starting to click and a fresh new opponent this week may just be what the doctor ordered.
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. 3 – Oct. 10)
3rd Star
Jordan Gagnon drops down the three stars this week but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of play. Since joining the Stampeders out of training camp he has impressed the Stampeder faithful every single night and continues to grow on the Stampeder blue-line. The 6’0” 165 lbs shifty defenceman has certainly found a home and is proving to be a key piece of this stampeders defensive core moving forward. His speed and defensive play have been on full display the past month and he continues to chip in offensively. The Leduc, AB product collected four assists in two games last week against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. He now sits sixth overall in team scoring.
2nd Star
Cody Barnes finds his way onto the Three Stars of the Week for the first time this season. The 6’4” 201lbs power forward has found his way onto the power play unit and it paid off in strides for the Stampeders. The 20-year-old brings size and leadership to the Stamps’ forward group and is a force to be reckoned with upfront. Over the course of two games, the Kelowna, BC native collected three goals and one assist against Waywayseecappo.
1st Star
Jamie Valentino had himself a solid week on the scoresheet collecting three goals while adding two assists in two games. The 6’2” 180lbs Thompson, MB native collected one power play marker and two even-strength goals (possibly a third against Wayway Saturday night – the verdict is still out whether he scored or Cody Barnes got his stick on it) and added a pair of assists. He now leads his team in scoring with four goals and seven assists. His performance this past week gains him the first star of the week.
Honourable mentions this week go to Jackson Betcher (1G), Lare Pahtayken (1G), Brad Fortin (2A), Adam Rajsigl (2A) and Carter Cockburn (2A).
The Stampeders will have a four-day break in their schedule before hosting the Neepawa Titans in a four-game mini-series. That four-game mini-series gets underway Friday, Oct. 15 from the Centennial Arena. Puck drop goes at 7pm.
Game day tickets can be purchased online at stampedershockey.com, 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 game Friday, Oct. 15.
STANDINGS (Point Leaders)
3 – Jackson Betcher
3 – Adam Rajsigl
3 – Jordan Gagnon
2 – Carter Cockburn
2 – Dylan Black
2 – Jamie Valentino
1 – Noah Fladager
1 – Myles Mason
1 – Darius Makse