U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers forward Zach Nelson celebrates a first-period equalizer against the Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue at the Centennial Civic Centre on Saturday evening. Nelson also got the team’s third and final goal on Sunday as the Lancers beat the Blue 3-1 in Edmonton. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source Photos
The regular season may be winding down, but the U18 Lancers are still giving it their all with a home and away split over the weekend.
The Lancers (12-17-0-3-3) hosted the Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue (19-12-0-1-2) at the Civic Centre on Saturday night, losing 5-2, before heading to Leduc on Sunday, beating the Oil Kings (13-17-0-3-2) 3-1 at the Aspen Arena Leduc Recreation Centre.
Currently sitting seventh in Alberta Elite Hockey League U18 AAA north standings, the Lancers will have to wait until next year to fight for playoff contention, but there have been many lessons learned along the way.
The Oilers struck first on Saturday with a goal from Max Algarer at 1:02 in the first. Lloyd’s Zach Nelson was quick to answer at 2:49 with assists from Rylan Wieler and Landon Fallscheer, but Edmonton’s Nathan Duffett snuck a second shot past Lloyd goaltender Malakai Zwiers before the end of the first for a 2-1 game.
Lancers starting goaltender Malakai Zwiers makes a save on Saturday night at the Civic Centre. Zwiers stopped 42 of 47 shots on Saturday and 39 of 40 on Sunday.
After a scoreless second, captain Cayden Wildeman tied it up at 3:36 in the third with assists from Nelson and Wieler.
Wildeman’s goal, however, wouldn’t be enough as the Oilers got three more past Zwiers in the third for a 5-2 final.
With retaliation in mind, the Lancers travelled to Leduc on Sunday where they had better luck against the Oil Kings, besting the home team 3-1.
Lloyd’s Carter Goreniuk was first to score at 4:15 in the first with assists from Jesse Tkach and Rylan Wieler. Adryan Bugiera made it a 2-0 game at 3:35 in the second with assists from Rhett Romanchuk and Wieler before Oil Kings’ forward Maclin Davie got his team within one at 7:11 in the second.
Davie may have gotten the Oil Kings on the board, but Lloyd’s Zach Nelson got his 13th of the season at 17:12 in the third for a 3-1 final.
The Lancers hosted the Oilers Blue last night at the Civic Centre and will host the Oilers Orange this Sunday at 5:15 p.m. for their last home game of the season.
