HJHL Roundup: Vipers win thriller to cap exciting Saturday

The Vipers came away with two points in a thriller with the Generals, capping off an exciting night in the HJHL.

Red Deer (6) vs. Cochrane (5)

RED DEER – Mack Differenz and Logan Linnell each scored in regulation and then found the back of the net in the shootout to propel the Red Deer Vipers to a 6-5 win over the Cochrane Generals on Saturday evening, extending their winning streak to six straight.

Linnell finished with a goal and two assists for Red Deer (14-4-1), as did Keagan Kingwell. Declan Johnston and Aidan Wilson rounded out the scoring.

The teams found themselves tied 1-1 after 20 minutes and 3-3 going into the third period. It was back and forth as Cochrane (11-8-1) held leads of 2-1 and 3-2, while Red Deer held a 5-3 lead late, before it was the Generals turn to battle back.

Jarod Domingo provided most of the offence for Cochrane, scoring four times on the night, while Scott Shugg had the other.

Branden Bilodeau stopped 26 shots in the Red Deer crease, not including two of the three Cochrane shootout attempts.

Erik Garber made 34 saves in the loss for Cochrane.

GAME SUMMARY

High River (5) vs. Stettler Lightning (4)

STETTLER – Chantz Vinck made 46 saves as the High River Flyers held on for a 5-4 win over the Stettler Lightning on Saturday.

Davis Sheldon and Josh Younker each finished with a goal and assist for the Flyers (12-8-3), while Mason Mazur, Connor Minchin and Cole St-Amand rounded out the scoring, each finishing with a single.

Jordan McCallum turned aside 44 shots for the Lightning (7-10-2).

GAME SUMMARY

Blackfalds (3) vs. Strathmore (1)

STRATHMORE – Shawn Rowe’s power-play marker 1:52 into the third period proved to be the difference as the Blackfalds Wranglers took a 3-1 win over the Strathmore Wheatland Kings.

After a scoreless first period, Landon Siegle opened the scoring 6:57 into the middle stanza to give Blackfalds (13-5-0) the 1-0 lead after 40 minutes.

After Rowe netted his seventh of the season, McKoy Kahlert responded for Strathmore (9-8-2) less than three minutes later. However, George Montour would restore the Wranglers two-goal lead in the final minutes of the game.

Goaltender Lane Brann was solid in the Blackfalds crease, stopping 32-of-33 shots fired his way.

GAME SUMMARY

Medicine Hat (5) vs. Three Hills (1)

THREE HILLS – A two-goal night from Noah Irvine paced the Medicine Hat Cubs to a 5-1 win over the Three Hills Thrashers.

Bailey Taylor, Mackenzie Ftritzler and Chasen McKenna also found the back of the net for the Cubs (7-11-0), which held a 3-0 lead after the first period and 4-0 lead after 40 minutes.

Josh Breznik turned aside 32-of-33 shots faced between the pipes for Medicine Hat, earning his second win of the season.

Tanner Boutin had the lone goal for Three Hills (0-14-0), which got 41 saves from netminder Klay Munro.

GAME SUMMARY