The Swan Valley Stampeders held their home opener Saturday night and didn’t disappoint those in attendance. Swan Valley received goals from six different skaters en route to a 6-2 win over the visiting OCN Blizzard in front of an electric crowd in the Centennial Arena.
Jayce Nikbakht, Alex Danis, and Jackson Zloty lead the way with a goal and an assist each, while Mikael Foucher stopped 41 of 42 shots he faced on the night.
The Stamps used their home crowd energy to generate some early offence. That pressure lead to the opening goal as Noah Fladager drove the net and was rewarded with his first of the season at 12:49 of the opening frame. Denis would score his second of the young season with just over a minute remaining in the opening period, sending his team to the locker room up 2-0.
OCN found their offence early on in the middle frame as Ben Hilhorst (30 second mark) and David Queree (7:29) would score to tie the game, with both coming on the power play. The newly acquired Zloty would regain the stampeders lead 31 seconds later picking up is first of the year. Nikbakht pounced on a loose puck sitting in the slot and wired home his first as a Stampeder with 30 seconds left in the middle frame.
Quinn Mulder (13:22) and Callum Fortin (17:15 EN) each scored in the third period, and the Stampeders ran their record to a perfect 2-0 start to the season
Final shots on goal
OCN – 43
Swan Valley – 31
With the new league rules, the Stampeders will now have a five break before resuming their schedule. The next action for the club will be Friday Oct. 16 in OCN as they take on the Blizzard once again. Next home action will come the following night (Saturday, Oct. 17) when they host the Blizzard yet again.