Canadiens Claim Top Spot in NEAJBHL

Friday’s win over Vegreville secures the top spot for the St. Paul Canadiens

The Jr B Canadiens have climbed to the top of the NEAJBHL standings and maintained their undefeated status with a win over Vegreville on Friday. The Clancy Richard arena was home to the Rangers – Canadiens showdown, which ended in a 4-2 decision in favour of St. Paul.

Head Coach of the Canadiens, Joe Young, says there were moments in the game the team let up some and the Rangers took advantage of that. He’d like to see the squad play hard for the full 60 minutes. “That game we were inconsistant a little bit. We had lines go from playing really well… to not playing well at all. When we’re playing teams that are making a run for a championship, we have to make sure that everybody’s going.”

The Canadiens opened scoring early in the first, with a goal from Brodin Ference  at 1:47. Dyson Roy picked up the apple on that one. Vegreville answered back at 7:38 when Cory Falconer put in a goal from Josh Micklich and Zachary Flasha-Lupashuc. The Canadiens didn’t let the Rangers celebrate long, less than 20 seconds later, Arron Gagne made it a 2-1 game, thanks to some help from Damon Roy and Austin Paton. The Rangers tied it up at 16:46 from Dylan McGee and Cory Wozniak, before the close of the first.

Zach Sylvestre and Brayden Goulet made sure the game didn’t stay tied long, getting the go-ahead goal 20 seconds into the second. The rest of the period would stay stagnate; with no points from either team.

The third period was pretty heated on both sides with a fight breaking out around the six minute mark. Ryley Wozniak and Bailey Lonsberry would get tossed, along with Vegreville’s Trey Lutyck-Neufeld and Alex Kitz. Coach Young says that’s part of hockey and he wasn’t too concerned with the fight; which is exactly what you say on the winning side of the battle. Adam Neibrandt secured that for the Canadiens with a goal from Ryan Rancier and Sylvestre at 17:01.

Coach Young says the team has a lot of chemistry right now, which is why he likes to keep the same lines out there. “It builds chemistry and we’ve liked what we’ve seen so far. Not only with the offense, but they work together with a five man offense, on defense as well. They get to know each other and you get a feel of where a guy’s going to be, instead of guessing.”

“I want to sharpen up on the consistency, the last few games I feel like it’s lacking a little bit. Come this Friday when we play Wainwright, everybody’s going to be ready to roll.”

The Canadiens take on Wainwright at the Clancy Richard Arena on Friday – WIN your way in on LCN!