Golden Hawks land second win

By Lethbridge Herald on November 10, 2021.

The Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks earned their second win of the season on their way to a 1-1 weekend in Alberta Elite Hockey League play.

The Golden Hawks defeated the Edmonton Maple Leaf (MLAC) Scott Pump 5-3 Saturday afternoon at Nicholas Sheran Arena, but dropped a close 3-2 decision to the Medicine Hat South East (SEAC) Tigers Sunday.

With the split, the Golden Hawks are 2-11-0.

On Sunday against the Tigers, the Hawks fell behind 3-0 after two periods, but third period goals from Kayson Christian and Braxton Hanna cut the deficit to one.

Seth Bird-Goodstriker stopped 30 of 33 shots in the loss.

Briggs Olson scored twice in the second period in Saturday’s win as Lethbridge opened up a 3-0 lead after the first period.

Hanna, Christian and Cassius Day Chief scored in the opening period for the Golden Hawks.

Hanna and Day Chief each had an assist for a two-point afternoon.

Jake Demone added two helpers for Lethbridge.

Bird-Goodstriker kicked out 29 of 32 shots to earn the win.

The Golden Hawks take three weeks away from AEHL play and return to action Nov. 27 when they travel to Calgary to take on the Royals.

The Hawks are back home Dec. 4 when they host the Red Deer Rebels at 1:30 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

The Lethbridge U16 Headwater Hurricanes lost a pair of close road games last weekend.

The Hurricanes were defeated 4-2 by the Red Deer North Stars Saturday and lost a 4-3 decision to the Calgary Flames (NWCAA) Sunday.

The losses put the Canes at 2-6-0 on the season.

On Sunday in Calgary, the Hurricanes held a 1-0 lead after the first period on a goal from Deegan Kinniburgh, but the Flames scored three goals in the second period to take a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.

Carter Cunningham and Connor Chapman added the other Lethbridge goals, while Kahil Wright stopped 31 of 35 shots.

Cunningham and Chapman each had an assist for two points.

Nathan Hawkins and Oakley Hill each scored their first goals of the season for the Hurricanes in Saturday’s loss in Red Deer. Hawkins also had an assist

Harrison DeJong made 21 saves.

The Hurricanes are back home this weekend when they host the Okotoks Oilers Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Logan Boulet Arena and the Calgary Northstars Sunday at 11:45 a.m., also at the Logan Boulet Arena.

The Lethbridge U18 Hurricanes were also 0-2 on the road last weekend. They are now 6-4-1 this season and in fourth place in the South Division.

The Canes lost 6-3 to the Calgary Royals Saturday before dropping a close 1-0 decision to the South Division-leading Calgary (NW) Flames Sunday.

On Sunday, a Flames goal by Sean Smith with 7:02 remaining was all the offence Calgary needed to post the win as Logan Falk stopped all 32 shots he faced for the win and the shutout.

Erick Roest turned aside 24 of 25 shots for the Hurricanes in the close loss.

In the loss to the Royals Saturday, the Hurricanes held an early 2-0 lead on goals from Chase Bambrick and Caden Heins, but Calgary replied with five unanswered goals to move ahead 5-2 after two periods.

Peyton Twigg added one more goal for the Canes in the third period.

Twigg and Heins each added an assist for a two-point game. Braigh LeGrandeur added two helpers.

Beck Boiteau got the start for the Hurricanes, stopping 16 of 21 shots before Roest came in for the final 26:42, stopping all 13 shots he faced.

The Canes are home for six straight games, starting this weekend when they take on the Edmonton Maple Leaf (MLAC) Beverly Optimists Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena and the Airdrie CFR Bisons Sunday at 2:45 p.m., also at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

The Lethbridge U18 Hockey Hounds won a pair of games in South Central Alberta Hockey League play last weekend

The Hounds topped the Central Alberta Selects 5-1 Saturday in Blackfalds and followed that up with a 3-2 win over the Red Deer Elks Sunday in Red Deer.

On Saturday, the Hounds opened up a 4-0 lead after the first period as Zane Rajcic and Drew Constant scored twice each and Caden Still added one.

Garrett Carlson chipped in with two assists and goaltender Ryan Dekok made 26 saves in the win.

On Sunday in Red Deer, all the scoring was done in the first period by both teams as the Hockey Hounds pulled out the one-goal win.

Rajcic, Garrett Carlson and Constant – with the game-winner with 2:14 left in the first period – scored for Lethbridge.

Rajcic added an assist for two points.

Nixon Ordway stopped 39 of 41 shots.

The Hockey Hounds return to Henderson Arena Saturday when they host the Calgary NWCAA Bruins at 4:45 p.m.

They head to Calgary Sunday to face the CNHA Gold.

Follow @@DWoodardHerald on Twitter