HJHL Roundup: North vs. South Saturday night

Statements were made on a busy Saturday that saw six North vs. South matchups.

Okotoks (4) vs. Red Deer (3)

RED DEER – Davin Reagan made 49 saves as the Okotoks Bisons held on for a 4-3 win over the Red Deer Vipers on Friday evening at the Collicutt Centre.

A three-goal third period proved to be the difference for the Bisons (4-2-0), which got tallies from Robbie McLean, Taylor McNeill and Bradley Whitehead during the frame to take a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Joshua McCulloch rounded out the Okotoks scoring.

Logan Linnell scored twice for the Vipers (4-2-0), while Mack Differenz finished with a goal and two helpers.

Branden Bilodeau made 19 saves in the Red Deer crease.

GAME SUMMARY

Blackfalds (3) vs. Cochrane (2)

COCHRANE – Brett Westin’s second period was the difference as the Blackfalds Wranglers skated to a thrilling 3-2 win over the Cochrane Generals on Saturday night.

The teams split the scoring in the first and third periods, but it was Westin that was able to find the back of the net for the lone goal of the middle frame, bucking the trend.

Bronson Spearing and Jacob Tien had the other Blackfalds (4-1-0) goals, while goaltender Lane Brann turned aside 29-of-31 shots between the barber poles.

Erik Gerber was fantastic in the Cochrane (4-3-0) crease, making 48 saves on the day.

Austin Keller and Braden Bain each added a single for the Generals.

GAME SUMMARY

Mountainview (4) vs. High River (2)

DIDSBURY – Four unanswered goals enabled the Mountainview Colts to erase a 2-0 deficit and skate to a 4-2 win over the High River Flyers on Saturday.

Colton Anderson and Josh Gette each finished with a goal and two helpers on the night to lead the Mountainview (4-2-1) offence.

Alan Klinck and Trey Wallace rounded out the scoring for the Colts, which got 21 saves from netminder Reid Money.

Chantz Vinck turned aside 37 shots in the Flyers (3-3-1) crease, while Michael McTighe and Davis Sheldon had the first period markers.

GAME SUMMARY

Stettler (4) vs. Strathmore (2)

STRATHMORE – Tanner Steinwand broke a 2-2 tie with 5:31 remaining in the third period to lift the Stettler Lightning to a 4-2 win over the Strathmore Wheatland Kings.

Braydon Whiteford sealed the deal with an insurance marker just under three minutes later, while Mark Bengert and Brendan Bardwell rounded out the scoring on the night, each finding the back of the net in the middle stanza.

Taylor Frank made 25 between the Stettler (2-5-0) pipes, earning his second win of the season.

Cole Bright had 32 saves in net for Strathmore (3-3-1), which got goals from Hayden Vander Ploeg and Garret Vander Ploeg.

GAME SUMMARY

Coaldale (7) vs. Ponoka (2)

COALDALE – Cody Riehl scored once every period to propel the Coaldale Copperheads to a 7-2 home-ice victory over the Ponoka Stampeders on Saturday.

Jayden Smith chipped in with a goal and two helpers for Coaldale (5-3-0), while Treyton Chomyn added a goal and assist.

Nolan Barner made 25 saves between the barber poles, picking up his third win of the season, while Jayden Bexte and Josh Fernandez rounded out the scoring, each adding a single.

Nate Higgins and Jordan Sears had the goals for Ponoka (0-6-1).

GAME SUMMARY

Medicine Hat (7) vs. Three Hills (1)

MEDICINE HAT – It was a special teams display on Saturday night as the Medicine Hat Cubs skated to a 7-1 win over the Three Hills Thrashers.

The Cubs tallied three times on the power play and also added a pair of shorthanded goals.

Noah Irvine led all skaters with two goals and one assist, while Matt Clement reversed that, with a goal and two assists.

T.J. Goldie stopped 21-of-22 between the pipes, moving his record to 3-2-0 on the season.

Tavin Stadnicki, Riley Florkowski, Kian Simonson and Mackenzie Fritzler rounded out the Medicine Hat (4-2-0) offensive attack.

Tanner Boutin scored the lone goal of the game for the Thrashers (0-6-0).

GAME SUMMARY