Southwest Rockies snare Timberwolves to end losing streak

Frank McTighe, Macleod Gazette Editor

The Southwest Rockies snapped a 10-game losing streak Sunday by upsetting one of the best teams in the South Central Alberta Bantam AA Hockey League.

The Rockies overcame a four-goal deficit and scored the winner with 2:58 to play to stun the visiting Bow Valley Timberwolves 6-5.

The Timberwolves were on the verge of an early Christmas present to themselves as they built a 4-0 lead in the game at Crowsnest Pass Memorial Arena.  The Rockies began to show signs of life late in the second period when Michael McTighe stripped a Bow Valley defenceman of the puck and went in alone to score with his team playing two men short.  The Rockies struck again less than a minute into the third period when McTighe fed Jordan McAulay, who made no mistake. The Timberwolves pulled ahead 5-2 but the Rockies got that one back when Nic Jordan blasted a shot home. Rockies captain Turner Sharp and McTighe drew assists.  The Rockies continued their comeback less than three minutes later when Cameron Gallant and K’s Thomson combined to set up McTighe for his second of the game with the Rockies on the powerplay.

A minute and a half later the Rockies pulled even on a powerplay goal by Ethan Richards, assisted by Jason Stockton and Chase Snider. With 3:17 to play the Rockies completed their unlikely comeback against a team 22 points higher in the standings.

McTighe scooped the puck at his own blue line and carried it to the Bow Valley zone, where he was checked. Jordan jumped on the loose puck and fed it through to McTighe who lifted it over the sprawling goalie.

The Timberwolves fired 50 shots as Rockies goalies Sean park and Kyle Roberts. The Rockies managed 26 shots on the Bow Valley goal.

Following the game the Rockies coaches announced forward Cameron Gallant, defenceman Turner Sharp and goalie Sean Park will represent the team at the league all-star game in January.

Venom 5 Rockies 3

The Southwest Rockies learned a valuable lesson Saturday about taking your boot off the neck of the snake when you’ve got it pinned down.

The Rockies built a 3-0 lead on home ice at Crowsnest Pass Memorial Arena but couldn’t finish the job as Medicine Hat Venom fought back to win 5-3.

The loss extended the Rockies losing streak to 10 games and prevented them from gaining any ground on the Venom, who are tied with Taber Golden Suns for fourth place in the South Division.

The Rockies played a great first period, checking the Venom into submission and outshooting their opponents.  K’s Thomson gave the Rockies the lead mid way through the first period, with Chase Snider and Cameron Gallant assisting.

The Rockies continued their strong play in the second frame and went up 2-0 on a goal by Ethan Richards just 2:23 into the period. Jessen Luco assisted.  Less than two minutes later the Rockies made it 3-0 when Luco carried the puck through the neutral zone into the Venom end and blasted home a high, hard shot.

The Venom may have been on life support but just 30 seconds later they showed signs of life with their first goal of the game.

Play went end-to-end through the rest of the second period, but with 3:48 to play the Venom scored again and the Rockies went into the dressing room nursing a slim 3-2 lead.

The Rockies continued to hold the lead through the third period but the Venom kept pressing and were rewarded with a goal by captain Noah Irvine with 4:19 to play to tie it 3-3.

Irvine scored again with 53 seconds to play, and the Venom had their first lead of the game.

With the Rockies goalie on the bench in favour of the extra attacker Irvine scored an empty-netter to complete a natural hat trick and give the Venom the 5-3 win.

The Rockies were assessed 10 minutes in penalties to the Venom’s two.

Sean Park faced 36 shots in the Rockies goal, while his teammates directed 33 at the Medicine Hat net.

The two teams meet again Saturday, December 21 at Medicine hat in the final game before the Christmas break.