Cold Lake Ice win at home, lose tight in OT vs Killam

The Cold Lake Ice split contests this weekend, stringing together back-to-back wins before falling to Killam. 

On Friday, the Ice found a way to get past the Onion Lake Border Chiefs on home ice in a 5-2 victory, but could not sustain the success the next night on the road vs the Wheat Kings, suffering a close 3-2 loss in overtime. 

Against Onion Lake, Bryce Harrison scored a hat-trick, Maeson Stabbler collected three assists, and goaltender Nolin Lindsey made 23 stops en route to victory. 

“You know what, we played well. We found a way to win,” said coach Scott Hood in the post-game. 

“We didn’t play our best. But came out guns-a-blazing in the first, second we didn’t play our best, it took us a bit to get going in the third. Not a complete effort, but an effort that got the job done. We’ll take the win. We’re on a winning streak now, so we’ll definitely take that and move on tomorrow.” 

‘He’s worked his butt off…’

Cold Lake scored three unanswered goals in the 1st period, with Riley Pollard’s goal was bracketed between Harrison markers. Ron Jay Peeawychew found one before the end of the frame and Andrew Wapass scored early in the 2nd period to draw the Border Chiefs within one. 

That’s as close they’d get. The Ice got goals from Harrison and Dawson Cook to secure their 5th win of the season. 

“Bryce has been one of our most consistent forwards all year. He’s a young kid coming here and he’s worked his butt off all year and every game, and it’s paying off for him now,” said Hood about Harrison, who now has five goals and nine assists on the season to lead the team.  

Harrison said he’s noticed an improvement in the last while with the group. 

“We’ve definitely got better at passing, communication is definitely better. At the start of the year, there was really no talking because we had a bunch of new and young guys, so it’s definitely getting better, so I’m looking forward to seeing how we are at the end of the season.” 

The Border Chiefs have struggled since re-entering the league and sit after a loss to St. Paul on Saturday at 1-15.

Battle against Killam Wheat Kings

The Ice secured a 2-0 nothing in the 2nd period against the Killam Wheat Kings, thanks to Carson Hebert and Carter Breen, and held it heading into the intermission

The Wheat Kings clapped back with two goals in 32 seconds in the 3rd, which held until overtime. 

Ty Milgate found the winner to give Killam its 11th win of the season, and dropping the Ice’s record to 5-10-2, 6th in the NEAJBHL. 

Cold Lake has three game before the Christmas break: heading to Onion Lake on Friday, Dec. 16, host the Vegreville Rangers on Saturday, Dec. 17, and faceoff head-to-head against the St. Paul Canadiens on Tuesday, Dec. 20.