Stampeders score 6 unanswered goals, double up Kings 6-3
The Swan Valley Stampeders MNP Home Opener was an all-time classic, as a packed home crowd got their money’s worth with the live action of MJHL hockey.
Although the game in general was great. The start to the game was definitely not what the home team had in mind, as the Kings opened the scoring on a deflection from Emrick Gagnon (6:28) to give the Kings a 1-0 lead. Dauphin managed to make it 2-0 after a miscue in the defensive zone by the Stamps, which led to Rylan Gage getting one to wrap up the first 20 minutes.
The middle frame was much better in the eyes of the Stampeders, but they were unable to cut the lead down, as Madden Murray took advantage of a defensive change and scored to make it 3-0. The Stampeders would begin to find life as the Kings took back-to-back penalties, which led to Bennett Muller letting a one-timer go which would find twine to make it 3-1. The score would remain that way until the final 20 minutes.
The final frame saw a completely different Stampeder team hop out onto the ice, as the top line of Riley Fequet, Ben Groome, and Ethan MacTavish went to work, leading to Groome’s goal to cut the deficit to just one. Feeling the momentum shift, Riley Fequet managed to let a wicked wrist shot go to tie the game at three, sending the SRCA into a frenzy. The Kings proceeded to dismantle and took another penalty, which saw 16 year-old Crosby Harrison score his first MJHL goal to make it 4-3, then Ethan MacTavish found the puck in the crease just 1:21 after the Harrison goal to make it 5-3, and Darren Hunt put the game away with the empty netter.
Easton Falls made 30/33 saves on the night for his first MJHL win and Finlay Johnston got an assist on the Harrison goal for his first MJHL point. The Stampeders will get right back to work as they wrap up the weekend against the Kings, in Dauphin at Credit Union Place. Puck drops at 7 pm tomorrow.
