Ice celebrate home opener with an 8-2 win

Photo Credit: Game Ready Photography 

After falling to rivals, the St. Paul Canadiens, on the road Friday evening, the Cold Lake Ice rallied, with the full support of the community, to an 8-2 win over the Vegreville Rangers in their home opener on Saturday. Imperial Oil Place was packed with fans to cheer the Ice on as the team glided to the win.

“We stuck to our game plan, got pucks deep and forechecked well.” Head Coach for the Ice, Scott Hood said the team performed to expectations on Saturday evening.

One might’ve thought the game was going to resemble the night previous when the Rangers took an early lead,  James Oloske popped in a goal with just 14 seconds on the clock. But that wouldn’t be the case.

Skating with four solid lines, the Ice didn’t take long to even the score with newbie  Maeson Stabbler placing the puck in the back of the net at 12:08 with the help of veterans Jacob Bartman and Shane Whitney. Whitney would go on to put up two goals, while Bartman assisted on three more.

Veteran Coltan Buchta ended the first period the same way he would open the second period, with a goal. It was a 3-1 hockey game with 22:19 on the clock.

Buchta always works hard, that’s what he does. He’s going to be counted on a lot this year as a leader. – Scott Hood, Head Coach Cold Lake Jr. B Ice.

The Ice continued to dominate the game with an unassisted goal from Whitney and a goal from  Tyler Smith, with Devon McCormack & Scott Thackeray helping to make it a 5-1 game at the end of 40 minutes.

Thackery carried the momentum of his assist into the third period with an early goal off  Deni Kantel and Tanner Barnes. Veg put up one more goal, from Deven Rewega, before the Ice closed the game with an unassisted goal from Kantel, followed up by an Ice classic, Whitney off Bartman.

Photo provided by Game Ready Photography

A big win for the Ice was amplified by the fan support, said the coach. “The community has been great tonight. Without the sponsorship and support, this team doesn’t go.” Hood thanked the community and major sponsors of the home opener, Cold Lake Ford, for coming out to support the club.

“We have three days of practices this week,” Coach Hood said the club will be taking full advantage of the ice time given to them to prepare for the upcoming weekend. He says there will be a focus on their structure and systems this week at practice.

The Ice are home to the Lloydminister Bandits on Saturday at Imperial Oil Place. Puck drops at 7:30pm. Watch for exclusive player interviews, intermission reports and post-game coverage on Lakeland Connect, thanks to Rosie’s Septic Tank, Double R Heavy Duty & Industrial Services and Lake City Coach.