Something — or someone — has to give Thursday night as a pair of unbeaten teams battle in junior B hockey.
The only two undefeated teams in the Northeastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League face each other Oct. 9 in Vermilion as the league-leading Tigers (5-0) entertain the Lloydminster Bandits (3-0) in the first battle between the Highway 16 rivals this season.
Game time is 8 p.m.
Read more: Bandits work overtime to corral Bisons — twice
At home Sunday afternoon, Vermilion shut out the Killam Wheat Kings 6-0 in a penalty-filled game. Jaxson Toutant, one of multiple Lloydminster boys in the Tigers’ lineup, assisted on four goals to push his league-leading scoring totals to four goals and 10 points after five games.
Vermilion also defeated the Wheat Kings (1-3) on Friday in a 7-4 decision at Killam Memorial Arena.
LLOYD TOPS ST. PAUL
Lloydminster made the most of its single-game weekend, winning 5-2 over the host St. Paul Canadiens (1-3) on Saturday night.
The Bandits led 2-0 and 4-0 after the first and second periods as even-strength goals from Kade Dennett and Joel Webb sandwiched power-play markers from Cayden Wildeman and Adryan Bugiera.
Corvan Stewart netted a third power-play goal in the third period. His brother Shae made 28 saves to record the victory in his first start of this young season.
In another feisty affair, it was a three-point night for Lloydminster captain Webb, with a goal and two assists. Corvan Stewart had one of each and Jayden Plamondon contributed two assists.
The Bandits fired 30 shots at St. Paul goaltender Boston Carter.
Mason Benko and Jager Fontaine each collected a goal and an assist for the Canadiens.
At Vermilion on Sunday, Aiden Fox recorded 22 stops in the Tigers’ shutout victory. Ethan Edward stopped 40 of the 46 shots he faced in Killam’s net.
Cash Capjack tallied twice for the Tigers, who received a goal and an assist each from Rylan Garnier and Kaden Davidson, goals from Caden Anderson and Dannon Pavka, and two assists from Cade Meiklejohn.
In Friday’s game at Killam, Ean Cooke powered Vermilion with two goals and an assist. Anderson, Davidson and Meiklejohn collected one of each. The Tigers’ other goals came from Toutant and Rohan Quist. Ryan Stowe registered 17 saves.
Jordan Gagnon, with two points, Drew Petiot, Tanner Sheets and Aidan Borgel scored for the Wheat Kings. Dylan Kruchten added two assists, while Killam keeper Valentino Harson blocked 27 of the 34 shots directed his way.
WAINWRIGHT WINS PAIR
In other weekend action, the reigning-champion Wainwright Bisons went on the road and scored their first two victories of the season. They improved their record to 2-1-2.
Wainwright dumped the 4-2 Cold Lake Ice 10-2 on Saturday, after clipping the 0-5 Vegreville Rangers 4-1 on Friday.
John MacNeil – Meridian Source
At Cold Lake Energy Centre on Saturday, Bisons forward Mason Ganser’s four-point night included a hat trick. Brandon Glover and Ryker Singer each supplied a goal and three assists, while Braden Aker potted two goals and one helper.
Luke Greenwood, with two points, Lucas McClennon and Zach Nelson scored the Bisons’ other goals. Tanner Werenka contributed three assists. Breckyn Smith had a pair of helpers.
Ryder Zubiak recorded his first goaltending win of the season, while Nate Dallyn faced the barrage in the Cold Lake net.
The Ice goals came from Shane Boland and Jonah Whaley.
In Friday’s victory at Vegreville, Wainwright’s top scorers were Ganser and Singer, each with a goal and an assist. McClennon and Cole Kubinchak also scored, and Jesse Tkach bagged two assists.
Bisons goaltender Lochlan Jenner blocked 15 shots and gave up just the one goal to Lukas Myshaniuk.
The busiest man of the night was Vegreville netminder Andrew Bezaire, who got in front of 47 of 51 shots from the Bisons.
BANDITS BACK HOME AT HUB ON SATURDAY
After their Thursday night game in Vermilion, the Bandits return to their new Lloydminster home, the Cenovus Energy Hub, for a 7:30 p.m. Saturday game against Killam.
The Wheat Kings begin their Thanksgiving weekend on Friday night when they host Wainwright at Killam Memorial Arena.
In the other games this Friday, Vermilion visits Vegreville and St. Paul hosts Cold Lake.
Read more: Bandits’ Dennett ‘skates like the wind’
