Cowboys ride the Palominos hard on their way to victory

Chris Davis and Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Peigan Cowboys vs Nanton Palominos
C.Davis photo

The Peigan Cowboys needed a solid victory to make up for their previous two pre-season losses, and last night they got one against Nanton.  The game they had scheduled against the Nanton Palominos on Friday, October 14 was cancelled, making Saturday night's game the Cowboys' last pre-season chance to redeem themselves in front of their fans, and more importantly to inspire the team before the regular season begins.

The two rivals faced off at Pincher Creek's MCC Arena on Saturday, October 15.

Cowboys fans
C. Davis photo

The first period got off to a rapid start, with both teams playing fast and heavy right out of the chute, and scoring early too.  Penalties were kept to a minimum, making it one of the shortest real-time periods I've seen the Cowboys play.  2-1 Cowboys at the end of the first period.

C. Davis photo

T. Lucas photo

The Cowboys scored a confidence building goal at the 17:15 mark of the second period, after which the Palominos put on the pressure.  The Cowboys scored another with 5:15 on the clock, and then another right after that, bringing the score up to 5-1 Cowboys.  Nanton turned up the heat some more, refusing to be counted out, and managed to sneak one in with 36 seconds left on the clock.  That goal was followed by a feisty round of fisticuffs that saw two players, one from each team, ejected from the game, a sign that the refs are taking the new low-tolerance rules seriously.

The Palominos rallied early in the third period, bringing the score to 5-3.  At 12:43 on the clock the Cowboys dumped in an inelegant but effective goal, bringing the score to 6-3, Cowboys.  Nanton rallied again late in the period, after being hard-pressed for most of the game, and scored two big faith-building goals, the last with 4:20 on the clock.  At that point it was anyone's game, seemingly, but with 1:52 on the clock the Cowboys scored again, and at 1:01 on the clock scored the prettiest goal of the evening (you've got to see the vid on that one!) to finish Nanton off 8-5.

That right there is what you call a "safety-goal"
C. Davis photo

The goaltending on both ends was excellent, with the relatively high-scoring game a testament to the fury of the offensive lines.  Marlon Yellowhorn was in the crowd, enjoying the game.  Yellowhorn is a veteran Cowboy who retired last season after 5 years with the team to make room for younger players.  He still keeps in shape by riding bike, playing softball, and working weights, and still enjoys watching the Cowboys play. He offered some between-period commentary on the game. "The Cowboys are playing decent," he said, "but they are letting the Palominos have the puck have too much time in the Cowboys' endzone.  Something that is helping is that the Cowboys have been getting a lot of lucky bounces."  He confided that four key players were not able to take to the ice for this game, because "they are in Vegas right now, playing slowpitch for the Co-ed World Championships. Our team is going on nothing but talent."

One of the talents the Cowboys excelled at this night was their passing play, which is often their weak spot.  They faked Nanton out several times in ways that showed up on the scoreboard.

Final score: Cowboys 8, Palominos 5.

Next up for the Cowboys, their first regular-season game on October 21, 2011, 8:30 pm at Siksika against the Blackfoot Minors.

The winner of the 50/50 draw was Joanne Yellowhorn $89.50

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