The Swan Valley Stampeders returned to action Saturday January 5th after a seventeen day break. The club faced off against 5th place Selkirk Steelers at the Centennial Arena on Josh Tripp poster night.
The Stampeders started tonight’s contest a little sluggish and goaltender Merek Pipes made some huge saves early on to keep the score tied at 0. As the first period progressed the Stamps started to find there legs which created some high quality chances. Regina, SK product Tanner McKechnie opened the scoring at 15:59 beating a sprawled out Zachary Bennett. After twenty minutes, the Stampeders led 1-0 with the shots 12-11 in favour of Swan Valley.
Nate Halverson tied the game just 1:30 into the middle frame beating Merek Pipes over the glove. Brett Namaka gave the Steelers the lead at 5:30 as he ripped home his seventeenth of the year beating Pipes through a screen. Campbell Balk tied the game on the power play as he redirected his fourth of the year at 6:40. Tucker Scantlebury picked up his first as a Stampeder at 12:27 of the middle frame which moved the stamps ahead by one. Bradly Goethals scored his twenty second of the year just forty one seconds later and the Stamps held a 4-2 lead after two periods of play.
Selkirk made it interesting in the third period as Ryan Sokoloski scored at 15:16 pulling the Steelers within one. Bradly Goethals scored his second of the game after he was hauled down on a breakaway with Selkirk’s net empty. The Stampeders went on to defeat the Steelers by a final score of 5-3. Final shots on goal were 32-29 Selkirk.
Tonight’s win improves the Stamps record to 25-7-3-2.
Stampeders will be right back in action tomorrow afternoon as the face off against the same Selkirk Steelers. Puck drop is at 4:00pm. Also tomorrow is skate with a Stampeder, which will take place immediately following tomorrow afternoons contest. Bring your skates and helmets are mandatory.