Cowboys end losing streak in style against Lomond Lakers

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Cowboys vs Lakers
C. Davis photo

On Saturday night, February 4 local fans were treated to a mighty fine hockey game, as the Peigan team put the "ow" back in "Cowboys" with a solid effort against the Lomond Lakers at the MCC arena in Pincher Creek.

Just prior to the game the Ranchland Hockey League, to which the Cowboys belong, announced that the Kainai Chiefs had folded, ensuring the remaining six teams in the league a spot in the playoffs.  Prior to that announcement, the Cowboys needed a solid win to be in contention.  Even after it, they needed a win to bring their confidence back.

Cowboys' #24 Blake Weaselhead hassles the Lakers' net
C. Davis photo

The Lomond Lakers are the second-ranked team in the league, fully three times ahead of the Cowboys in points.  When these two teams met in Pincher Creek on January 22, the Lakers won by a definitive 15-8.  Given the huge disparity in their records, nobody would have taken a $5 bet on the Cowboys in this contest.

The Cowboys got off to a slow start in the first period.  Lomond's #17 Kyle Sargent scored half a minute into the game, and it looked like history was about to repeat itself.

Something lit a fire under the Cowboys.  #9 Shay Prairie Chicken scored an unassisted goal for the Cowboys with 10:23 on the clock, followed by #25 Dan Bikman, assisted by #29 Mike Kanyo and #40 Jacey French.  All of a sudden the Cowboys were ahead 2-1.  You could feel the spirit of hopefulness waft through the hometown crowd.  At 4:47 left on the clock in the first, Cowboys' #2 Travis McNabb made his play, assisted by #24 Blake Weasel Head Senior, and the Cowboys were up 3-1. Lomond rallied with a tidy goal by #21 Dustin Brosz, assisted by #22 Maverick Blair at 2:24 on the clock, and the first period ended with the Cowboys ahead 3-2.

Cowboys setting it up to knock it in
C. Davis photo

It was interesting to watch these two teams demonstrate their very different styles.  Lomond plays a tightly orchestrated game, with every player seeming to know their place, lines tightly formed.  The Cowboys, well, they play Cowboys style.  They're a hard hitting team, and there were a few occasions where it seemed the boards were going to be knocked from their moorings from the heavy checking.

Lomond came out strong in the second period, much as they did in the first, again scoring in the first half-minute of play, bringing the score to 3-3.  Lakers' #6 Rustin Murray got the nod on that one.  A couple of minutes later Bikman got his second goal of the game, assisted by #12 Shane Yellow Horn, putting the Cowboys in the lead again.  Shay Prairie Chicken firmed up that lead with a goal at 11:30 left on the second period clock, assisted by #24 Blake Weaselhead Sr. Penalties in the latter part of the second period threatened the Cowboys' ability to maintain their strong offensive play.  Lomond's Maverick Blair and Kyle Sargent scored within a couple of minutes of each other, and at the end of the second the score was tied 5-5.

The third period was one of those beautiful and rare 20 minutes of hockey where every single play counted.  You could feel the charge in the air. The front line fireworks of Prairie Chicken and Weasel Head repeated their magic from the second period with an almost identical setup and knock-in, bringing the Cowboys ahed 6-5.  Then Sargent knocked another in for Lomond, 6-6.  Three minutes later Lomond's #8 scored unassisted, bringing the score to 6-7, and putting Lomond ahead for the first time since the first period.  With 6:56 left on the clock Cowboys' #2 Travis McNab got his second goal of the game, assisted by Blake Weasel Head Sr.  7-7.

Penalties in the third were again costing the Cowboys their forward momentum.  At five penalties to Lomond's 2 in the period, they were all too frequently playing short-handed.  The two teams battled it out, neither gaining the advantage, and the goalies under fire at both ends.  The Cowboys were hitting hard, and occasionally paying the price with some nasty collisions into the boards.

"It's a bird...It's a plane..."
C. Davis photo

Then, with 6:01 left in the game, Cowboys #17 Shawn Robertson decided to leave his mark on the scoresheet, and in the hearts of Cowboys fans.  Assisted by #55 Kaleb Bailey, he put one away, bringing it to 8-7 for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys pressed their advantage over a tiring Lomond team, and when the buzzer rang, it was Peigan Cowboys for the win, losing streak over, and Coach Tyrone Potts' repeated avowal that his team could beat any team in the league when they pulled it together properly was proven to be correct.  Lomond wasn't in the mood to shake hands after this upset.

It was a relatively clean game. Nobody was sent home early, the goaltending on both ends was dynamic, the little dust-ups that inevitably occur were kept to a minimum, and the Cowboys can now face the impending playoffs with renewed confidence.

Bam!!
C. Davis photo

"This is the game of the year for us, right now," said Coach Potts after the game.  I think the fans would agree with him.  "If we play this game, and we hit, we're going to win."  He invited the fans to come see the team in Coleman next weekend, in a game against the Nanton Palominos that might end up being a "playoff preview", as the two teams are likely to play each other in the first round of playoffs.

Three stars:
1: Cowboys #9 Shay Prairie Chicken (3 goals, determined offence)
2: Cowboys #2 Travis McNabb (1 goal, solid teamwork)
3: Lakers #17 Kyle Sargent (3 goals, one assist)

Pincher Creek Voice honorable mention: Cowboys # 24 Blake Weasel Head Sr. (4 assists).

Final score: Cowboys 8, Lomond 7

Chris Davis and Lloyd Coverdale video

Cowboys in Coleman next week
The Peigan Cowboys will be hosting the Nanton Palominos in a special game to be held on Saturday evening, February 11 at the Crowsnest Pass Sports Complex in Coleman. This will be the Cowboy's final regular-season game.  After that, playoffs.