Copperheads split weekend games

For the second straight weekend the Coaldale Copperheads went 1-1.

The Copperheads started with a home win Saturday night at the Coaldale Sportsplex, defeating the Medicine Hat Cubs 6-4, but lost on the road on Sunday, dropping a 4-2 decision to the Ponoka Stampeders in Heritage Junior Hockey League action.

The Copperheads are 9-7 on season, one point back of the High River Flyers (8-6-3) and the Strathmore Wheatland Kings (94-1).

On Saturday, the Copperheads led 2-0 after the first period on goals from Troy Feldbusch and Riese Nevil.

The teams swapped two goals each in the second period as Brandyn Howg and Sam Paskuski scored for Coaldale.

Tyler Anderson and Clayton Nevil scored for the Copperheads in the third, while Nolan Berner stopped 30 shots.

Paskuski added an assist for a two-point night and Calvin Swanson and Logan Middleton added two assists each for Coaldale.

On Sunday in Ponoka, the Stampeders jumped to a 3-0 lead before Middleton and Anderson scored in the second for the Copperheads.

Jayden Smith and Turner Sharp each had two assists for Coaldale.

Andrew Suriano stopped 28 shots in the loss.

The Copperheads hit the ice for three games this weekend. They start on the road in Mountainview against the Colts in Didsbury before heading back to the Coaldale Sportsplex, starting Saturday against the Okotoks Bisons at 8:30 p.m.

The Bisons lead the South Division at 10-5-1.

The team hosts the Three Hills Thrashers at 6 p.m. Sunday.