Southwest Rockies return to Bantam AA hockey league

AA Rockies after their Sept. 28 game against Red Deer
T. Lucas photo

Frank McTighe, Contributor*

The Southwest Rockies have returned to the South Central Alberta Bantam AA Hockey League after a one-year absence.

The Rockies are made up of players from Fort Macleod, Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Lethbridge and Chestermere.

At present the team plays and practices at Crowsnest Pass and Pincher Creek, with hopes of getting ice time in Fort Macleod.


Rockies 4, Ramada 4
The Rockies opened the season Sept. 28 with a 4-4 tie with Red Deer Ramada at Pincher Creek.
The game was just the second of the season for the Rockies, who dropped a 3-0 decision to Foothills Bisons in an exhibition game a week earlier.

Both teams came out firing but it was Red Deer that struck first, scoring just a minute into the game.
The Rockies roared back, with Jason (Iggy) Creighton roofing a shot to tie the game a minute later. Payton Tailfeathers assisted.

A minute later the Rockies took the lead when Michael McTighe broke in on a two-on-one, froze the goalie with the possibility of a pass and rang one in off the crossbar.


Red Deer tied the game with just under six minutes left in the opening period, but the Rockies took the lead again when Ethan Richards stormed in and blasted a shot home with the Rockies a man short.
Red Deer got the only goal of the second period while shorthanded and the teams went into the third period tied 3-3.

The Rockies took the lead again just over two minutes into the third period when K’s Thomson and Iggy Creighton combined to set up Jordan McAulay.

Rockies goalie Sean Park held Red Deer at bay through the third period as the Ramada pressed for the equalizer. Finally, with just 1:15 on the clock, the Ramada snuck one in to escape with a 4-4 tie.
Red Deer fired 38 shots at Park, while the Rockies had 31 shots on goal.

The Rockies were assessed six minor penalties and one game misconduct to four minors for the Ramada.

Related story:
AA Bantam Rockies and Red Deer play to 4-4 tie

Warriors 8, Rockies 1
The Rockies received a valuable lesson about special teams Sept. 29 in the Crowsnest Pass.
The Rockies gave up five powerplay goals to one of the league’s top teams and Wheatland Warriors skated away with an 8-1 win.

The Warriors took just seven minor penalties to the Rockies 12.

Coming off a 9-3 win over Cranbrook the night before the Warriors jumped to a 2-0 lead early in the first period.

The Rockies got one back before the period ended when Chase Snider set up McTighe for his second of the year.

The Strathmore-based Warriors broke the game open with four unanswered goals in the second period and added two more in the third.

Hurricanes 4, Rockies 1
Lethbridge built a commanding lead Oct. 4 and cruised to a 4-1 win over the Rockies.

The Hurricanes scored the only goal of the first period, added two more in the second and one early in the third on their way to the win.

Special teams were a factor as Lethbridge scored two goals on the powerplay and another shorthanded.
One of the Hurricanes goals came of the stick of Fort Macleod Minor Hockey product Ty Greer, who now lives in the city.

The Rockies got their only goal from Nic Jordan, a powerplay marker with 3:20 to play. Chaz Vance and K’s Thomson assisted.

The Hurricanes blasted 42 shots at Rockies goalie Sean Park. Lethbridge goalie Josh Breznik faced just 22 shots.

Golden Suns 4, Rockies 3
The Rockies exploded for three third-period goals Oct. 5 at Taber but it wasn’t enough to overcome a four-goal deficit.

The Golden Suns scored two goals in the first period and added another two in the second to take a commanding 4-0 lead.

The Rockies came out with renewed energy and focus to start the third period and were rewarded just over three minutes in when Nic Jordan scored after taking a pass from Tyson Goodreau.

The Rockies continued to press and notched a powerplay goal with 12:04 remaining. K’s Thomson scored his first of the season, with Turner Sharp and Chase Snider drawing assists.

Just 47 seconds later the Rockies pulled to within a goal when Jason Creighton set up Michael McTighe for his third of the season.

Playing with fire in their bellies the Rockies had several chances to tie the game but could not get the equalizer past Taber goalie Blais Unruh, who made 30 saves in the game.

Kyle Roberts was peppered with 45 shots in the Rockies goal.

*In addition to being the AA Rockies official press agent, Frank McTighe is Editor and Publisher of The Macleod Gazette (click here for The Macleod Gazette's website).