Bartman’s Early Goal Lifts Ice for Win Against Vegreville

Ice Captain Coltan Buchta in a game earlier this season against the Vegreville Rangers. Image provided by http://gamereadyphotography.com

Jacob Bartman’s goal 15 seconds into the game was the early lift the Cold Lake Ice used to comfortably defeat the winless Vegreville Rangers 4-1.

Quick first period markers from Jayden Frey and Donovan Bibeau provided a three goal cushion that Vegreville never threatened much at all.

Despite the win, coach Scott Hood felt his team could’ve controlled the game a little more.

“We were up 3-0 and we kind of let our foot off the gas right,” said Hood. “We know they’re 0-7 and 0-8 or whatever they are, and we should’ve beat them by a lot more, but we just let them back in the game. Give them credit they didn’t stop, they haven’t won a game and they don’t quit.”

The night before the team showed a little resiliency. After T-Birds forward Peter Willier tied up the game 3-3 with seven minutes remaining, a few good shifts turned into the go-ahead goal with 22 seconds in regulation by Devon McCormack.

“They’re not quitting. We were up 3-1, Frog [Lake] tied it, and then we scored with 22 seconds left, so I told the guys after that good teams find a way to win. In previous years we might’ve found a way to lose it. We’re having fun and guys are enjoying coming to the rink right now.”

The Ice moved to fourth overall in the standings and have a chance to chip away at the points gaps in front of them. Their next three games are against Lac la Biche, Wainwright, and Killam: all have more points and all three are in their building.

“We’ve played them all so we know what to expect…you see where you’re sitting and where you can possibly be and we’ll work on some things this week and hopefully come out on the right end of a couple games this week.”

Lakeland Connect’s Junior B Game of the Week takes us out to St. Paul where the (4-4-1) Canadiens will host the (3-8) Vermilion Tigers at the Clancy Richard Arena.

Earlier this season, St. Paul beat the Tigers in Vermilion 4-1.

The Canadiens are on a mini two game win streak against the Frog Lake T-Birds who they’ve outscored 15-5 over that span.