Friday's HJHL action

Mountainview Colts (5)
Red Deer Vipers (3)

DIDSBURY – The defending HJHL champs kicked off the season where they left off as the Mountainview Colts (1-0-0) skated to a 5-3 decision over the Red Deer Vipers (0-1-0) on Friday night at the Didsbury Recreation Complex.

Ryan Klinck paced the Colts offence with a pair of goals, while Evan Ingram, Colton Anderson and Austin Pedersen each netted a single. Thomas Della Siega earned the win in goal, stopping 32-of-35 shots that came his way.

Mitch Morrison, Justin Van Tetering and Brody Kalinowski provided the offence for the Vipers, which trailed 2-1 after 20 minutes and 4-2 going into the final frame.

Cole Sears made 32 saves in the Red Deer crease.

GAME SUMMARY

Airdrie Thunder (6)
Three Hills Thrashers (0)

AIRDRIE – A balanced scoring attack and 26 saves from goaltender Kade Taplin paced the Airdrie Thunder (1-0-0) to a 6-0 season opening win over the Three Hills Thrashers (0-1-0) on Friday night at the Ron Ebbesen Arena.

Clay Murray looks to repeat as the HJHL scoring champion as the 19-year-old finished the night with a goal and assist. Tyler Devost and Gavin Klein also netted a goal and one helper, while Jacob McDonald, Jared Jenke and Andrew McLennan each tallied singles.

The shutout marks the first in Taplin’s 94-game HJHL career.

Greg Pols stood tall in the Thrashers’ net, making 56 saves on the night.

GAME SUMMARY

Coaldale Copperheads (4)
Okotoks Bisons (2)

OKOTOKS – Four unanswered goals to close out the game paced the Coaldale Copperheads (1-0-0) to a 4-2 win over the Okotoks Bisons (0-1-0) at Murray Arena on Friday night.

Dustin Houghton’s tally with just one second left on the clock at the end of the second period stood up as the game-winner, while MacKenzie Karl netted an insurance marker for the Copperheads midway through the final frame.

Clay Cogt and Brady Parenteau also tallied for Coaldale, which got 19 saves from netminder Dillan Kelly.

Aiden Geiger gave the Bisons the early lead just 24 seconds into the game, while Joshua McCulloch made it a 2-0 game just under five minutes into the middle stanza.

Matthew McDonald was busy in the Okotoks net, stopped 43-of-47 shots fired his way.

GAME SUMMARY

Cochrane Generals (7)
High River Flyers (3)

HIGH RIVER – Talus Hume and Slater Ransom each scored twice and setup two others as the Cochrane Generals (1-0-0) skated away with a 7-3 win over the High River Flyers (0-1-0) on Friday night at the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex.

Chad Harrison finished the night with a goal and two helpers for the Generals, which held leads of 2-1 after one period and 3-1 after 40 minutes before scoring four times in the final frame.

Logan Brown and Connor Rendell rounded out the Cochrane scoring, while Ryan Simpson picked up the win in goal, making 14 saves along the way.

Mason Mazur, Evan Pakkala and Michael McTighe tallied for the Flyers, while goaltender Bryce Shegelski made 43 saves between the barber poles.

GAME SUMMARY