Bibeau Brothers Lift Junior B Heat Past Wizards

The Lakeland Junior B Heat played their first home game on May 6. It was a hot day in Bonnyville, and the team was intent on making things hot inside the Cenovus Arena as well. The final score was 14-5 for the Heat. Live game coverage was sponsored by Cave Inspections as it will be all year.

“Right off the bat at the beginning of the season we don’t necessarily know what the refs are going to be calling… Some of it is just getting lazy with stick infractions… Sometimes we get calls that go our way, sometimes we don’t.” Head Coach Dennis Hodinsky said about both team’s penalties troubles early on in the season.

Heat start slow

The first period started out a bit sloppy for both clubs. Donovan Bibeau scored his first of the game. The Heat and Wizards would take off-setting penalties, and then Mitchell Bibeau would take a second penalty to make it a 4 on 3 for the Wizards. It was a spectacular penalty kill for the Heat, allowing them to grab momentum. Mitchell Bibeau got his first goal of the game at 5:41. The Wizards replied with two late goals, and the score was 3-2 Heat headed into the intermission.

“We got off to a hot start, but then a couple late penalties. [We] lost momentum and they got a couple of goals. I think we’re going to have to come out flying off the hop, grab some momentum and score a couple.” Blake Smith said during the first intermission.

Things pick up

The second period started quick as Donovan Bibeau struck early once again. His second of the night gave the Heat some breathing room. Isaac Brown added one after a big Heat penalty kill. The Wizards added one more goal in the period. The Bibeau brother’s (Mitchell and Donovan) both added another goal each. Headed into the second intermission, the score was 7-3.

“We just gotta stand tall, play our game, and move the ball around. Gotta stay out of the penalty box.” Heat Captain Cole Kulczycki said during the Cave Inspections second period intermission report.

Putting the game to bed

The Heat would lock things down in the third period. Donovan Bibeau scored his fifth in the early going. Aaron Goulet added a goal 30 seconds later. The Wizards responded with a goal, but could not find a large enough swing of energy. After the Bibeau brothers and Goulet added goals, the Wizards got there final goal of the game. To close things out, Ethan Brown, Manson Ballash, and Youssef Eljaji netted goals.

“First period wasn’t so good, we were playing a bit selfish. Got into penalties, we have to still work on that. In the third period the boys started moving the ball around quite a bit, and you can see it made a difference in the score.” Head Coach Hodinsky said post-game.

The week ahead for the Heat

The final score was 14-5 for the Lakeland Heat. The Bibeau brothers combined for nine goals in the game. The Heat improve to 4-0-0 on the season. Their next game is in Lloydminster, where they will take of the Lloydminster Xtreme. The Junior B Heat return to Cold Lake next weekend on May 13. Lakeland Connect will have the live coverage of that game thanks to Cave Inspections.