The U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers need a season-ending winning streak, and they hope it coincides with a losing skid for at least one of the two teams that Lloyd is trying to bump from the playoff picture.
Read more: Lancers give themselves ‘a fighting chance’
After gaining one of a possible four points last weekend, the Lancers (12-17-7) are in seventh place in the North Division, two points behind the Edmonton Junior Oilers Orange (15-18-3) and Leduc Oil Kings (13-16-7) in the final lap of the Alberta Elite Hockey League playoff race.
All three of those teams have two games remaining on their respective regular-season schedules, which conclude this weekend.
Most notably, Lloydminster is at home to Leduc at 11:45 a.m. Saturday at the Hub. The Lancers visit the North’s fourth-place Sherwood Park Kings (18-17-2) at 4:45 p.m. Sunday. Lloyd has defeated Sherwood Park twice in the past three weeks.
Leduc ends regular-season play Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. home game against the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers, who sit second in the North with a 23-8-5 record.
Oilers Orange hits the road to face two top-four teams from the South Division — the Okotoks Oilers (16-16-3) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and the Calgary Northstars (23-10-3) at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Regardless of where they finish this weekend, it’s already been a breakthrough season for the Lancers, who showed marked improvement from the team that missed the playoffs the previous two years.
Just being in a playoff race in February has been an accomplishment for Lloydminster, which last season managed just six wins and finished last in the 16-team provincial league.
“Yeah, it’s a lot different from last year,” said captain Rhett Romanchuk, in his third and final season with the U18 AAA Lancers. “Our first year, we were pretty close (to making the playoffs). I think it came down to the last weekend or two. But I don’t think we had this competitive of a team — a team with this much drive.
“It’s nice to see that Lloyd hockey is coming together, after those last two not-great years. I think everybody in (the dressing room) knows that we have a chance to turn it around (even more) this year.”
Last weekend, Lloydminster lost 7-3 on Sunday afternoon to the host Edmonton Junior Oilers Blue (27-6-3), the top team in the North Division.
At home the previous night, the Lancers fell 4-3 in overtime to the third-place St. Albert Raiders (20-10-7). Raiders captain Nolan Bisson scored on a power play just 27 seconds into overtime, firing a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle and popping the goaltender’s water bottle in the process.
It was the second goal and third point of the game for Bisson, a Spokane Chiefs’ WHL prospect who began this season with the junior A Lloydminster Bobcats. Despite missing time with injuries, Bisson has produced 19 goals and 30 points in 25 games this season.
Including a late start and pre-game ceremony, Saturday’s game didn’t end until 10:15 p.m., and the Lancers were on the road early the next day for a 2 p.m. contest against the rested Oilers Blue.
Kyle Denis and Lucah Lamb scored the other St. Albert goals Saturday against Lancers goalie Stran Edge, who made 38 saves on the night. Kai Zurowski blocked 29 shots for the Raiders.
Connor Knickle, with two points, and fellow Spokane prospect Josh Frazer scored for the Lancers, along with Calgary Hitmen prospect Kael Scott, the rookie leading Lloydminster in scoring with 19 goals and 42 points after 36 games.
Cobin Garnett, a 15-year-old defenceman who played the first half of this season with the U17 AAA Lancers, assisted on two of Lloyd’s three goals Saturday.
In both weekend games, the U18 AAA Lancers played without one of their young guns in Spokane prospect Brody Sunderland, a 25-point forward. Sunderland took an errant puck to the head during practice last Thursday and suffered a concussion.
The Kitscoty native attended both weekend games and reported this Monday that he has made steady progress in his recovery.
Sunderland believes he’s on schedule to play in Lloyd’s final two regular-season games this weekend.
“Yeah, it’s looking like I will play,” he said. “These last two games are really important. I want to be back for those.”
Sunderland planned to ease his way back into form during this week’s practices, increasing activity each day. He said it’s critical for the Lancers to focus on themselves this weekend and not be preoccupied with other teams’ results or possible tie-breaking scenarios.
As with multiple teammates, Sunderland has battled sickness this season. He had missed six consecutive games with pneumonia before returning to action in January.
This past weekend, Lloyd went up against two of the top teams in the North. For the second straight Saturday, the Lancers settled for a point on home ice, including an OT loss to Oilers Orange the previous weekend.
“It was a tough weekend,” Sunderland said Monday. “We knew that (would be the case) coming in, facing two good teams. So, getting one point off St. Albert is nice. Then, Oilers Blue, there’s not much you can do there. They’re a good team.”
As part of his four-point weekend, Nickle scored two goals in Sunday’s game, including a power-play marker. Scott netted the other Lloyd goal and Aiden Harman had two assists.
Oilers Blue received three-point performances from Jaxson Kobe (1-2) and Matteo Mannella (0-3).
Ethan Berard made 28 saves in Edmonton’s net.
Read more: Lloydminster U18 AAA Lancers step up into playoff picture
