The Swan Valley Stampeders picked up a huge four points on home ice over the weekend, going 2-0, and improving their overall record to 32-16-5. The teams continued work to improve daily is starting to show, reducing their penalty minutes and finding some much needed offence, scoring 10 goals in two games. Special teams continue to shine for the Stampeders, going 3/5 on the power play and 1/10 on the penalty kill in both games. The teams power play is ranked second in the league at 28% while their penalty kill is ranked third at 81.6%.
Goaltender Mikael Foucher’s play cannot go unnoticed. The 19-year-old was stellar in back-to-back wins for the Stampeders. More on him below.
As the Stampeders push towards the playoffs, which is roughly three weeks away, the team is looking healthier with the return of a veteran presence this weekend. 20-year-old forward Frazer Dodd returned to the lineup Saturday after he was sidelined with an injury sustained before Christmas.
Week Results
7-3 win over Virden Saturday February 8.
Goals by: Leyson Coleman, Josh Maucieri, Josh Beauchemin, Tommy Cardinal (2), Carter Cockburn, and Luke Beerman.
5-3 win over Selkirk Sunday, February 9.
Goals by: Callum Fortin, Josh Maucieri, Nathan Carl, Trever Schroder, and Daunte Fortner.
The Three Stars of the Week is awarded week-to-week with points being collected throughout the season.
The top three players will be presented an award before our final home game of the regular season.
Three stars point system is as follows:
1st Star = 5 points
2nd Star = 3 points
3rd Star = 1 point
Check back every Monday for the Paull Funeral Home & Crematorium, Three Stars of the week.
THREE STARS (Feb 3 – Feb 10)
3rd Star
Nathan Carl returns to the three stars this week after another offensive weekend. The native of Sherwood Park, AB would pick up four points in two games, making him this week’s third star. The 5‘9” 154 lbs shift forward would pick up an assist in a 7-3 win over the Virden Oil Capitals Saturday night. The 19-year-old would then pick up his team leading 22nd goal, adding two assists in a 5-3 win over the Selkirk Steelers Sunday evening. In 53 games, he has scored 22 goals, adding 21 assists for 43 points.
2nd Star
Josh Maucieri takes over this week’s second star position, picking up a pair of goals and adding an assist. The 20-year-old speedster has really come on in the second half of the season, returning to his normal forward position. The product of Crosby, MN, USA would score two highlight reel goals, one against Virden and the other against Selkrik, helping his team claim two victories. The 6‘2” 181 lbs forward would also collect an assist on Tommy Cardinal’s power play marker against Virden Saturday. In 53 games, he has scored 13 goals, adding 28 assists for 41 points.
1st Star
Mikael Foucher was nicknamed “The Wall” over the weekend, going 2-0 and posting a .932 SV% with a 3.00 GAA. The product of St-Hubert, QC turned aside 86 of 92 shots he faced over the course of 120 minutes in the Stampeder net. The 19-year-old posted a .940 SV% Saturday against the Oil Capitals after facing 50 shots. He followed that up with another stellar performance Sunday, posting a .932 SV% and a 3.00GAA in the win over Selkirk. The 5‘11” 170 lbs goalie has dressed in 37 games, posting a leagues second best .918 SV% and a 2.75 GAA.
Honourable mentions this week go out to Tommy Cardinal (2G), Trevor Schroder (1G, 2A), Jackson Betcher, Parker Johnson, John Jebamani, and Leyson Coleman – all picking up 2 assists.
The Stampeders have a very big week ahead of them. The Stamps’ will travel to OCN Wednesday (7:00pm), followed by back-to-back home games Saturday and Sunday against Wayway (7:30pm) and Winnipeg (6:00pm). Just four points behind Winkler, the team will need to put forth a great effort this week to try and over take the third place Flyers.
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*NOTE* The Stampeders organization are auctioning off their White set of game worn jerseys, if you would like to place a bid, head over to https://www.stampedershockey.com/stampeders-white-jersey-auction to find out how.
Point Leaders (2019-20)
22 – Trevor Schroder
21 – Josh Maucieri
14 – Nathan Carl
14 – Tommy Cardinal
14 – Frazer Dodd
9 – Luke Beerman
9 – Carter Cockburn
8 – Jackson Betcher
6 – Ryley Lanthier
6 – Josh Beauchemin
5 – Mikael Foucher
5 – Daunte Fortner
4 – Parker Johnson
3 – Lane Kirk
2 – Leyson Coleman
1 – Tanner Glasrud
1 – Callum Fortin
1 – John Jebamani