Playdown defeat and league win for Atom Chinooks

Okotoks Oilers defeat Atom Chinooks in playdowns

Pincher Creek's Atom Chinooks had their Provincials hopes dashed after being defeated in playdowns by Okotoks Oilers. The Chinooks hosted the Oilers on February 2 for the first of two playdown games.

The Oilers won that one by one point, 6-5 (click here for the full story).  Then the Chinooks traveled to Okotoks for game 2 on Saturday February 8.  They were up by 2 at that game, which is what they needed for a win, but the Oilers tied it early in the third, going on to win 7-5.

Atom Chinooks defeat Foremost Flyers

Atom Chinooks vs Foremost Flyers

The Atom Chinooks hosted the Flyers at Pincher Creek's MCC arena on Sunday February 9 for a regular league game.

The Chinooks demonstrated much improved teamwork out there, smart passing plays, and a tightened defence, helping them to a 7-4 win over the Flyers.

Chinooks #15 Cade Ames

Ryan Lengyel of the Flyers scored first,  an unassisted breakout goal with 4:28 remaining in the first period.  Unassisted Chinooks goals by Cade Ames at 2:33 remaining and Logan Deley at 1:10 remaining put the Chinooks ahead 2-1 at the end of the period.

Ryan Lengyel was also the first to score in the second period, on the power play and again unassisted, to tie it 2-2. The game began to get a bit rough. Then Rylan Bruns of the Chinooks backhanded one in off a faceoff at the 10:19 mark to make it 3-2 Chinooks. 14 seconds later Bruns coaxed one in from behind the net to make it 4-2 Chinooks. Logan Deley got an assist on that play.

The penalties kept coming, and Flyers goalie Brynlee Hollingsworth was kept very busy during a five on three stretch of play after two of her teammates got banished to the box. Meanwhile, Tristen Blood was holding his own quite well in the Chinooks' net.

Chinooks netminder Tristen Blood

At 7:38 remaining in the period, on a power play, Chinooks Alex Comeau took a pass from Connor Stuckey and made it count, putting the Chinooks ahead 5-2. 

Chinooks #2 Alex Comeau with the puck

The Flyers were not accepting defeat easily, coming out strong at the start of the third period.  At 18:52 on the clock Flyers Karsten Van Tryp scored, assisted by Janaya Laqua.  5-3.  Then out came Rylan Bruns' slapshot, which he unleashed successfully at the 13:35 mark on a power play to make it 6-3 Chinooks.

Penalties cost the Flyers their momentum in the third.  

With 6:12 remaining in the game Riley Potts of the Chinooks scored, making it 7-3.  He was assisted by Rhett Fitzpatrick.  The final goal of the game was scored by Janaya Laqua of the Flyers, assisted by Gerret Harty.

Final score Chinooks 7, Flyers 4.

The Atom Chinooks have one regular league game left this season, a makeup game against Magrath on Thursday February 13 starting at 6:15 pm at the MCC arena.