Copperheads ‘Thankful’ in weekend homestand
The Coaldale Copperheads feasted on some early-season points in their annual three-game Thanksgiving Heritage Junior Hockey League homestand
The Copperheads started the weekend with a 4-3 overtime win over the Medicine Hat Cubs Saturday night at the Coaldale Sportsplex, but fell 3-2 — also in overtime — to the Cochrane Generals.
Coaldale was able to complete the weekend with the win and a shutout as they blanked the expansion Lomond Lakers 8-0.
The weekend improves the Copperheads to 5-1-1, good for second placed in the Southern Division and four points back of the league-leading Okotoks Bisons (7-0-1).
In the weekend-opener Saturday night, Levi Anderson scored in overtime for his second of the game and Jayden Smith and Brant Mack added the other Coaldale goals.
Anderson added an assist for a threepoint night. Riese Nevil added two assists for the Copperheads.
At the other end, Nolan Berner made 27 saves.
In Sunday’s overtime setback to the Generals, the teams were tied 2-2 after two periods and skated through a scoreless third before the Generals drained the winner in the extra session.
Ty Abbott and Anderson were the Coaldale scorers. Abbott also had an assist.
Berner kicked out 33 shots, giving him 60 saves on 66 shots in the first two games.
The Copperheads were quick out of the gate in Monday’s game against the Lakers, scoring four times before adding three in the second and another in the third.
Coaldale’s Jayden Bexte had two goals and two assists for a four-point afternoon, while Anderson wrapped up an eight-point weekend with two goals and an assist.
Christian Dees, Jared Bainbridge, Tyler Anderson and Abbott added one goal each for the Copperheads.
Bainbridge added two assists for three points and Abbott had two helpers. Dees had an assist for two points.
Brandyn Howg and Turner Sharp had two assists each.
Taber product Broc Merkl earned the win and the shutout with 13 saves.
The Copperheads head to Okotoks for a first-versus-second showdown with the Bisons and return to the Coaldale Sportsplex Saturday night when the Ponoka Stampeders pay a visit. Game time is 8:30 p.m.