HJHL Roundup: Thunder and Lightning put on a show

Thunder and Lightning put on a show Saturday night.

Airdrie (7) vs. Stettler (6)

STETTLER – Jacob MacDonald scored the winner just 15 seconds into overtime as the Airdrie Thunder escaped with a thrilling 7-6 road victory over the Stettler Lightning on Saturday evening.

Clay Murray and Dante Raposo paced the Thunder (8-1-1) offence, combining for 10 points on the night as Murray had two goals and three assists, while Raposo scored three times and setup two more.

Rylan Plante-Crough had the other goal for Airdrie, which got 35 saves from goaltender C.J. Wedenig.

The game featured various momentum swings as Airdrie held second period leads of 3-1 and 4-2, before the Lightning (2-6-1) came back to tie it in the third period, only to see Airdrie restore their two-goal lead and then lose it in the final minute.

Dylan Houston, who had three goals on the night, got the Lightning within one with 57 seconds remaining, then Kieran Rost sent the game to overtime as he found the back of the net with just 22 seconds left, his second goal of the game.

Braydon Whiteford rounded out the Stettler scoring.

GAME SUMMARY

Red Deer (6) vs. Ponoka (3)

RED DEER – A pair of goals off the stick of Nicholas Scott propelled the Red Deer Vipers to a 6-3 win over the Ponoka Stampeders on Saturday night at the Collicutt Centre.

Dalton Angelvedt added a goal and two helpers for the Vipers (7-2-0), which have now won three straight.

Declan Johnston, Logan Linnell and Mack Differenz rounded out the scoring attack for Red Deer, which got 21 saves from goaltender Cole Sears, who improves to 4-1-0 on the season.

Jonathan Kelly, Jacob Sayler and Brandon Brockerville had the goals for Ponoka (1-7-1).

GAME SUMMARY

Coaldale (6) vs. Cochrane (1)

COALDALE – Nolan Berner was a brick wall between the barber poles, stopping 35-of-36 shots faced to help the Coaldale Copperheads pick up the 6-1 win over the Cochrane Generals.

Jayden Smith led the charge offensively for Coaldale (7-3-0), scoring twice on the night, while Reise Nevil, Ryan Tessemaker, Cody Riehl and Brandum Howg each chipped in with a single apiece.

Slater Ransom had the lone goal of the game for Cochrane (4-6-0), which have now lost four straight.

With the win, Coaldale takes over sole possession of first place in the South Division.

GAME SUMMARY

High River (5) vs. Medicine Hat (2)

HIGH RIVER – Five different players found the back of the net, while Dylan Jensen made 22 saves between the pipes as the High River Flyers used a balanced attack to take a 5-2 win over the Medicine Hat Cubs on Saturday night.

Evan Pakkala led all skaters with three points, scoring once and setting up two others, while Egor Sinko, Devon Barlow, Mason Mazur and Connor Minchin each chipped in with singles as the Flyers (4-4-1) held leads of 3-0 after 20 minutes and 4-2 going into the final frame.

Noah Irvine and Kian Simonson replied for the Cubs (5-5-0), which got 24 saves from goaltender T.J. Goldie.

GAME SUMMARY