Junior B Roundup: two wins for Ice and Canadiens, T-Birds fall

It was another busy weekend in the North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League.

The Cold Lake Ice was in action three times over the weekend, although an ammonia leak at the Energy Centre threatened to cancel the game on Sunday against the St. Paul Canadiens.

The Ice beat the Vermilion Tigers 7-4 on the road Friday. Despite trailing after the first period, Captain Coltan Buchta and Nathan Duff steered momentum in the Ice’s favour, eventually getting three goals in the final frame for the victory.

The winning ways continued on Saturday against the Frog Lake, the T-Birds only game of the weekend. Tysne Stanski scored two in the first period and Matt Henwood stopped 29 of 32 shots for a 6-3 win against the T-Birds. Frog Lake only had 15 skaters for the contest.

The Ice ran out of steam on Sunday against rivals St. Paul Canadiens. Orrie Wood’s two goals past the first period gave the Canadiens the cushion in an eventual 4-1 win. Brayden Goulet, Brandon Burak, and Zach Bendall each had two points.

The night before the Canadiens took care of business against Vermilion. Brayden Goulet put three past Tigers goalie Dakota Kenyon, and Zach Bendall had four helpers to extend his team points to 40. The Canadiens won 5-1.

The Canadiens and Ice are both on the move in the standings.

St. Paul (15-8-1) sits 4th in the NEAJBHL at 31 points, three behind the Killam Wheat Kings.

Cold Lake (13-11-1) is in 5th place at 27 points, four behind the Canadiens.

Frog Lake (7-14-3) find themselves in 7th place at 17 points, eight behind the Lloydminster Bandits.

Next weekend

Frog Lake plays a rare mid-week contest Wednesday night at home against the Lac la Biche Clippers (19-3-0). They host Vermilion on Saturday night before traveling to Wainwright on Sunday to place the first place Bisons.

The Cold Lake Ice are back at Imperial Oil Place Friday night to play the Clippers, before a trip down south to Killam on Saturday.

The Canadiens can put more separation on the Lloyd Bandits when they come to the Clancy Richard Arena on Friday. Then it’s a trip to Wainwright to see the first place Bisons on Saturday.