The Swan Valley Stampeders suffered a 6-3 loss to the OCN Blizzard Wednesday after the wheels fell off in the third period.
Swan Valley’s offence was led by Callum Fortin, Carter Cockburn and Collin Jennings who each collected a goal in the loss.
The two teams skated to a scoreless tie after a very entertaining opening 20 minutes Wednesday night at the Centennial Arena.
Drake Flynn opened the scoring at 4:08 of the second period and Raj Gil added the Blizzard’s second of the game just 40 seconds later. Fortin collected his ninth of the year late in the second period to cut into the Blizzard’s lead.
The third period was where everything came undone for the Stampeders as Dain Sardelli scored back-to-back goals just over two minutes apart to give the blizzard a 4-1 lead. Cockburn sliced into that lead 20 seconds after Sardelli’s second goal of the night, pulling the Stampeders to within two. Cy Toth scored less than a minute later and Sardelli collected his third of the night a minute and a half after that giving the Blizzard a 6-2 lead. Jennings collected his second of the night but it wasn’t enough as the Stampeders lose their third straight game.
Final shots on goal
OCN – 38
Swan Valley – 43
Swan Valley needs to shake this off and snap out of their recent funk as their playoff hopes are closing fast. The Stampeders will head to OCN Friday for a 7 pm game against the Blizzard with their eighth and final matchup between these two teams coming Saturday, Mar. 5 at the Centennial Arena. That game is free for all ages.