Defending champion Kings drop pair to Stampeders

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This article was published 26/03/2023 (542 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

STAMPEDERS VS. KINGS

The Swan Valley Stampeders got a pair of late goals over the weekend to take a 2-0 lead in their Manitoba Junior Hockey League quarterfinal series with the defending Turnbull Cup champion Dauphin Kings.

On Friday in Swan River, a point shot from Collin Jennings went off Justin Keck and by Kings netminder Cole Sheffield with 68 seconds left in regulation to give the Stampeders a 2-1 win.

Jennings and Jakob Jones had two assists for Swan Valley, who also got a goal from Trey Sauder and a 29-save performance from Kobe Grant.

Carter Zalischuk had the lone marker for the Kings and Sheffield turned aside 37 shots.

On Saturday in Dauphin, Jennings lit the lamp with 2:29 to go in the third period to give the Stampeders a 6-5 triumph.

Jennings had three goals and an assist to lead the way for the visitors. Noah Wilson had three assists and Alex Walicki dished out two helpers.

Landen Gulutzan, Keck and Sauder rounded the scoring, while Grant stopped 29 shots.

Mathew Gough paced the Kings on offence with a goal and two assists, with Anthony Bax, Deepkaran Hans, Jamie Valentino and Jakob Brook also finding the back of the net.

Sheffield made 15 saves in the first two periods before being pulled in favour of Dmytro Kubritsky, who turned aside nine shots in the final frame.

The best-of-seven series resumes Tuesday in Swan River. Game 4 is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Credit Union Place in Dauphin.

BLIZZARD VS. OIL CAPITALS

The other all-West Division matchup between the OCN Blizzard and Virden Oil Capitals is all square at a game apiece following a pair of games in The Pas.

The Oil Capitals struck first on Friday with a 4-2 triumph. Colten Miller led the way with two goals and two assists, while Dean Gorchyinski dished out three assists and Nolan Chastko potted a pair of goals.

Darik Feasey and Ashton Paul countered for the Blizzard.

OCN bounced back Saturday with a 3-1 victory. Drayden Kurbatoff lit the lamp twice for the hosts, who also got a goal from Riley Zimmerman.

Roux Bazin had the lone marker for the visitors.

Eric Reid and Chase Hamm were in between the pipes for the Oil Capitals and Blizzard in both games. Shot totals were not available.

The series now shifts to Tundra Oil & Gas Place for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both games get underway at 7:30 p.m.

TERRIERS VS. NIGHTHAWKS

The Centennial Cup host Portage Terriers hold a 2-0 advantage over the Niverville Nighthawks, who qualified for the playoffs in their inaugural season.

On Friday in Portage la Prairie, Mike Stubbs wired a shot home just 46 seconds into the second overtime to give the Terriers a 5-4 win. Dauphin’s Hayden Lacquette had a hat trick in regulation to lead the way for the hosts, while Stubbs lit the lamp twice.

Kian Calder, Austin Peters and Tayem Gislason all had two-assist nights for the Terriers and Bailey Monteith stopped 26 shots.

The Nighthawks received an impressive performance from goaltender Chris Fines as he made 47 saves. Josh Paulhus had two goals and an assist to pace the offence, while Evan Bortis had three assists.

Braden Panzer had a goal and two assists in the loss, which saw Gavin Gunderson score a goal and dish out a helper.

On Saturday in Niverville, Ryan Botterill had a goal and two assists for the Terriers as they skated to a 5-2 triumph.

Kaden Kohle, Daniel Siso, Brenden Holba and Stubbs also scored, with Monteith stopping 28 shots.

Carter Spirig and Tyler Kennett countered for the Nighthawks and Fines made 32 saves.

The series resumes on Tuesday in Portage la Prairie. Game 4 takes place in Niverville Thursday.

PISTONS VS. FLYERS

The home team hasn’t had much luck in the other East Division quarterfinal matchup as the Steinbach Pistons and Winkler Flyers both came away with road wins over the weekend.

On Friday in Steinbach, Jayce Legaarden was the overtime hero for the Flyers as the Grandview product pounced on a loose puck to give the Flyers a 5-4 win.

Zach Nichols had a pair of goals for the visitors and Legaarden had an assist to go along with his game-winning marker.

Trent Sambrook of Medora and Mike Svenson both had two-assist nights for the Flyers, who also got goals from Gavin Waltz and Xyon Kiemeney to go along with Malachi Klassen’s 26-save performance.

Ian Amsbaugh had a goal and an assist each for the Pistons, while Travis Hensdrud had two assists. Neo Kiemeney, Leo Chambers and Ty Paisley also scored for the hosts and Dominik Wasik made 20 stops.

The Pistons responded on Saturday with a 3-2 win in Winkler. Dawson Milliken led the way with a goal and an assist each, while Paisley dished out a pair of helpers.

Ethan Johnson and Hensrud rounded out the scoring for the Pistons and Wasik bounced back with a 28-save performance.

Svenson recorded a pair of assists for the Flyers. Nicholas McKee and Brandonite Dalton Andrew both lit the lamp in the loss, which saw Klassen block 32 shots.

The series resumes Tuesday in Steinbach, with Game 4 set for Wednesday in Winkler.

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