Copperheads drop league final, open play in provincials on Thursday

The Coaldale Copperheads fell one game short of the Heritage Junior Hockey League title, but their season isn’t done yet.

The Copperheads were defeated 4-2 by the Red Deer Vipers during the thirdand-deciding game of the Heritage Junior Hockey League championship Sunday night in Red Deer as the Vipers repeated as champions.

However, there’s still some hockey left to be played as both the Copperheads and Vipers head north to Fort St. John for the Junior B Provincial Championship Thursday through Sunday.

In Game 3 Sunday in Red Deer, the teams were tied 1-1 after the first period, but Red Deer scored twice in the second period and led 3-2 after 40 minutes before adding the insurance marker in the third to seal the win and this year’s HJHL championship.

Ryan Tessemaker and Riese Nevil were the Copperhead goal scorers.

Nolan Berner made 27 saves in the loss for Coaldale.

The Copperheads forced the third game thanks to a 4-2 win over Red Deer Saturday night at the Coaldale Sportsplex.

Jedd Horvath, Brandyn Howg, Ty Abbott and Logan Middleton — with an empty-netter — scored for the Copperheads. Berner stopped 31 shots in the win. The Vipers won Game 1 6-4 Friday night in Red Deer.

Tyler Anderson, Levi Anderson, Jayden Bexte and Sam Paskuski scored for the Copperheads.

Berner kicked out 33 shots.

The Copperheads are off to Fort St. John and take on the host Huskies in their first game Thursday at 8 p.m.

The Copperheads are back in action Friday at 1 p.m. against the Wetaskiwin Icemen and wrap up the round-robin Saturday when they face the Wainwright Bisons at 9 a.m.

The semifinals take place at 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday night.

The third-place game goes Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with the gold medal game to follow at 2 p.m.

For schedules and scores, visit http://juniorb.haprovincials.ca/home/.