Peewee Chinooks edge Kainai in exhibition thriller

Chinooks #40 Ethan Grier on his way to a hat trick against Kainai Chiefs
Lloyd Lybbert photo

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek's Peewee Chinooks hosted the Kainai Chiefs on the afternoon of  October 26 for a pre-season exhibition hockey game.

These two teams appeared to be very well matched, and spectators were treated to a solid three periods of back and forth play.  Chinooks #40 Ethan Grier scored the first goal of the game at the 14:21 mark of the first period.  If you don't know the name Ethan Grier yet, rest assured that you will, because this kid's got the stuff.  He was assisted by #19 Calim Yellow Face on that goal.  Kainai #19 Tayson Loyal evened the score up 1-1 with a goal at the 7:41 mark of the first, assisted by #71 Taylon Bruised Head.

L. Lybbert photo

The Chinooks pulled ahead again at the 17:49 mark of the second period, after an unassisted goal by #20 Nelz Vance, unassisted.  Nelz' mighty slapshot is often a goalie's worst nightmare.  Kainai tied it up just a short while later with a goal at the 16:54 mark by #6 Trace Day Chief. 2-2. An unassisted breakaway powerplay goal by Kainai #10 Jeff Blackwater at the 15:34 mark put Kainai ahead 3-2.  The Chinooks did a good job of keeping the puck in the Kainai zone for much of the period.  At the 13:10 mark Nelz Vance scored his second goal of the game for the Chinooks, after carrying the puck from behind the Chinooks net all the way to slapshotville.  A humdinger of a goal to tie it up again 3-3.  Then at the 6:56 mark Chinooks #39 Taylor Smith put one in, unassisted, bringing the score to 4-3 in the Chinooks' favor, which is where it stood at the end of the period.

Chinooks #20 Nelz Vance slaps one in
L. Lybbert photo

Ethan Grier scored his second goal of the game at the 13:42 mark of the third period, with Nelz Vance assisting to put the Chinooks ahead 5-3.  Kainai bounced back at the 11:50 mark with a goal from #13 Rylan Shuberg, assisted by #19 Tayson Loyal.  5-4.  Those same two did it all over again to tie the game 5-5 with 7:32 remaining, and it was anybody's game again. Silly penalties almost cost the Chinooks the game after that, but another goal by Ethan Grier with 2:32 remaining put them ahead 6-5.  Grier was assisted by Trinity Tanner on that play.  Tanner has really developed as a player, another one to watch this season.

Hat trick for Ethan Grier.

C. Davis photo

Despite their continuing efforts Kainai couldn't get another one past Chinooks netminder Wes Krampe, and the Chinooks won the game 6-5.

C. Davis photo

The Chinooks got an overabundance of penalties in this game, 4 of them in the first period and 4 of them in the third period for a total of 19 minutes served.  by contrast Kainai got 1 penalty in the first and 1 penalty in the third for a total of 4 minutes.  The refs appeared to be calling what they saw, and a penalty ratio like that can be the difference between a win and a loss.  Not on this afternoon though.

All in all this was truly an exciting game to watch.  Both teams played full-out for three periods.  It's going to be a good season.

The Peewee Chinooks are scheduled to play their first regular season game against Irvine next Saturday, November 2.  It's a home game, starting at 2:00 pm at Pincher Creek's Memorial Community Centre arena.

Lloyd Lybbert photo