Copperheads earn Game 1 win over Junior Braves

By Lethbridge Herald on February 11, 2022.

The Coaldale Copperheads have struck first in their opening round series against the Kainai Junior Braves.

Hosting Game 1 of the team’s Heritage Junior Hockey League South quarter-final Tuesday night at the Coaldale Sportsplex, the Copperheads posted a 5-1 win to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Game 2 is tonight at the Kainai Sports Centre at 8 p.m.

On Tuesday night in Coaldale, the Copperheads broke open a scoreless tie with four second-period goals en route to the win.

Derrien Tonin, Tristan Miller, Koden Lazar and Braiden Burke scored in the middle stanza before Ethan Many Bears got the Junior Braves on the board 6:43 into the third.

Krishan Stocker added one more for Coaldale with 1:46 to round out the scoring as the Copperheads outshot the Junior Braves 43-23.

Kaden Booth had four assists for the Copperheads, while Nolan Price added two helpers.

Stocker added an assist for a two-point night.

Ethan Barrows turned in a 22-save performance for the Copperheads, while Junior Braves goaltender Mason Brussee stopped 38 of 43 shots.

If necessary, Game 3 will go Saturday at the Coaldale Sportsplex at 8:30 p.m.

The Copperheads went 22-11-3 in the regular season to place third in the South, while the Junior Braves were 6-29-1 to take sixth.

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