Southwest Rockies continue strong play with two wins and a loss

Rockies vs Bisons at Pincher Creek rink
C. Davis photos and video

Frank McTighe, Macleod Gazette Editor

The Southwest Rockies enjoyed a strong week in the South Central Alberta Bantam AA Hockey League.

The Rockies won two of three starts to improve their record to three wins, six losses and a tie.

The Rockies are on the road Nov. 9-10 for games at Sylvan Lake and Red Deer.

Their next home game is Saturday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. at Pincher Creek against Badlands Longhorns from Brooks.

Rockies 3 Hurricanes 2

Rockies goalie Kyle Roberts was scary good on Halloween night as the Rockies edged visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 3-2 at Crowsnest Pass.

Roberts stopped 50 shots as he backstopped the Rockies to their second victory of the season.

Nic Jordan scored the only goal of the first period to stake the Rockies to a 1-0 lead.

Just over four minutes into the second period Chaz Vance scored to put the Rockies up 2-0.

Lethbridge managed to cut the Rockies lead in half with 7:27 left in the second period on a goal by Keagan McDowell.

Mid way through the third period defenceman Turner Sharp restored the Rockies two-goal lead with a blast from the point. Michael McTighe and Jesson Luca assisted.

Lethbridge got a powerplay goal from Billy Burch three minutes later to narrow the gap to 3-2.

The Hurricanes stormed around the Rockies goal for the next 6 1/2 minutes but could not get the tying goal past Park.

The Rockies were assessed 24 minutes in penalties to just eight for the Hurricanes.

The Rockies managed just 23 shots on Lethbridge goalie Seth Graham.

Rockies 5 Longhorns 3

Turner Sharp and Ethan Richards each had two goals Saturday at the Rockies corralled the Badlands Longhorns 5-3 at Brooks for their third win in a row.

Sharp staked the Rockies to a 1-0 lead with a powerplay goal just 2:17 into the game, with Cameron Gallant assisting.
Brooks tied the game with a powerplay goal of its own two minutes later but the Rockies regained the lead late in the period on Sharp’s second goal of the game. Richards and Jordan McAulay assisted.

The Rockies went up 3-1 when Nic Jordan scored the only goal of the third period, assisted by Payton Tailfeathers.
The Longhorns got back into with a powerplay goal early in the third period.

An unassisted shorthanded goal by Richards mid way through the period restored the Rockies lead to two goals.

With 2:18 to play Richard got his second of the game from Luco and McAulay and the Rockies led 5-2.

The Longhorns thundered back and with 1:14 to play got their third of the game, but that was as close as they would come.

Sean Park got the start in goal for the Rockies and gave up one goal on 14 shots. Roberts took over and allowed two goals on eight shots in about 26 minutes of work.

The Rockies were assessed 40 minutes in penalties and the Longhorns had 46 minutes.


Bisons 7 Rockies 2

Rockies host Bisons at MCC arena in Pincher Creek

The Rockies had their three-game winning streak snapped Sunday at Pincher Creek.

The Foothills Bisons scored mid way through the first period and took a 1-0 lead into the dressing room.

A powerplay goal in the second period improved the Bisons lead to 2-0 but Michael McTighe got that one back for the Rockies minutes later.

The Bisons got back-to-back shorthanded goals to pull in front 4-1, then added powerplay goals to make it 6-1.

Tyson Goodreau of the Rockies scored a powerplay goal in the third to make it 6-2 but the Bisons added one more for the 7-2 win.