The Swan Valley Stampeders will be looking to string together a pair of wins this weekend as they host the Virden Oil Capitals tonight at the Centennial Arena.
The Oil Capitals are coming off a 10-3 drubbing over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines Tuesday night while the Stampeders beat the OCN Blizzard 4-0 the same night in OCN.
Swan Valley will stampede into tonight’s action looking to overtake the Oil Capitals in the West Division as these two teams sit one point apart in the standings. The next four games against one another are make-or-break for both teams as they jockey for playoff positioning. Time is running out as the Stampeders have just nine games left in the regular season and need every point they can get to stay in the playoff hunt.
These two teams haven’t seen one another since their first four-game mini-series back in late October and early November. During that stretch of hockey, the Stampeders scored 15 times while giving up 16 goals. The season series sits at two games apiece and it will be an excellent game to attend tonight.
The two teams are nearly identical in stats, standings points, and their last five games are nearly the same. Virden is heading into tonight’s game having gone 3-2 over their last five games sporting a 22.3% (5th) power play and a 74.1% penalty kill (10th). The Stampeders are coming off a bit of a tough stretch going 2-3 in their last five games sporting a 20.9% power play (7th) and a 77.2% (8th) penalty kill. Let’s just say tonight’s game is going to have a playoff feel and isn’t one to miss. Get your tickets fast.
With the current health orders in place, you must wear a mask and have proof of vaccination to enter. Attendance numbers have been restored to full capacity with further health measures being removed in the very near future.
Head Coach and General Manager Barry Wolff has made some changes to his lineup ahead of the game tonight. Lare Pahtayken, Ethan Matchim and Adam Ward have been scratched while Myles Mason returns and will play defence alongside Cole Chauvette. Trey Sauder will also be dressing tonight and will center the line of Jacob Paler-Chow and Brad Fortin. Sauder has missed the last two games serving his suspension. Nineteen-year-old Goaltender Dylan Black is coming off a 4-0 shutout win in OCN and is expected to get the start in goal.
Players to watch
SVS – (Carter Cockburn (18G, 25A), Quinn Mulder (12G, 24A), Adam Rajsigl (7G, 25A) and Brad Fortin (12G, 19A).
VIR – Braden Fischer (28G, 34A), Nathan Driver (27G, 19A), Dylan Halliday (23G, 18A) and Carson Buydens (18G, 23A).
Tickets for tonight’s game can be purchased online at stampedershockey.com, at Patty’s Sports Excellence or at the door.
Tonight’s game can also be viewed on hockeytv.com or listened to live on gx94radio.com. The puck drop is set for 7 p.m..
More to come following the game.