Canadiens take a win and a loss heading into Xmas Break

The St. Paul Jr B Canadiens gave fans a show before the Christmas break with two home games right before Santa’s visit. On Friday, the club welcomed the Frog Lake T-Birds to a 2-1 loss and on Saturday, the Saddle Lake Warriors fell 6-2 to the Habs.

Game 1 Vs Frog Lake

It was a well-fought battle at the Clancy Richard Arena, on Friday evening, as the Canadiens fell short to the Frog Lake T-Birds 2-1. In an intense match-up, both clubs kept it clean on the sheets, with only 18 minutes of penalties in the 60 minutes of play. It was fast-hockey that displayed everything great about the Northeast Alberta Junior B Hockey League (NEAJBHL).

“I definitely don’t have any complaints,” Head Coach of the Canadiens, Joe Young, “the boys played hard. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any luck tonight. We had chances around the net and we just didn’t finish.”

Both teams held off one another until 13:45 in the second, when  Alexander Astasiewicz scored for the Habs, from Zach Bendall. “We’re short on D, so short shifts are key right now. Smart plays and keep it simple,” Astasiewicz said heading into the third the club would have to keep firing on net and execute calculated plays to keep the momentum of the goal going. The  Canadiens would exit the period with the 1-0 lead.

The T-Birds fought back in the third, putting two past goaltender, Michael Davis. Scoring for the visiting team was, Joshua Swampy and  Michael Cardinal; with Ryder Prue taking the assist on both goals.

“The team played exceptionally well. Unfortunately, you’re going to have nights like this,” Coach Young says taking a loss when it could’ve been a win is a part of the sport.

Game 2 vs Saddle Lake

Newly reinstated in the NEAJBHL, the Saddle Lake Warriors were welcomed to the Clancy Richard Arena with a 6-2 loss handed to them from the home town boys, the St. Paul Canadiens. “It’s one of those games, where we’re trying to climb in the standings,” Assistant Coach Corey DeMossaic explains the club needed the win to help secure their advancement heading into 2018, “this game is must-win for us.”

The players must have received the message, as they went into the first period gunning,  Brodin Ference opened up the scoring at 3:21, from Dyson Roy & Cameron Potter. The goal was quickly followed up by three more Habs goals; from Zach Bendall, Arron Gagne, and Piita Manyfeathers. The Warriors managed to get a goal in before the end of 20; from  Tyrone Potts Jr.

Zach Bendall put in his second goal of the game in the second, the sole goal for the period.  “All we can do is worry about what we’re doing and play our systems as best as we can. We don’t worry about who we’re playing,” Assistant Bendall says the club will continue to play how they would against any other team.

The Warriors opened the third period with a goal from  Orrie Wood. The celly would be short-lived as it was followed up by another Canadiens goal, this time from  Cameron Potter  with captain Dyson Roy & Brodin Ference on the assist.

With the win, the club climbed to 5th in the NEAJBHL standings, says Coach Young, “it was points that we needed and I’m glad the guys got the W.” The boys are back at the Clancy Richard Arena on January 5th to meet their rivals, the Cold Lake Jr B Ice.