Golden Hawks get the point
The Lethbridge Val Matteotti bantam AAA Golden Hawks took a point off the top team in western Canada. The Golden Hawks skated to a 2-2 tie with the Airdrie Xtreme during Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League play Saturday afternoon at Nicholas Sheran Arena as Lethbridge goaltender Tyler Palmer kicked out 33 shots.
After a scoreless first period, the Golden Hawks carried a 10 lead into the third before before the Xtreme struck for two goals midway through the third to take a 2-1 lead.
But with time winding down, Rylen Roersma struck for the game-tying goal as the teams skated away with one point each and the Golden Hawks stopped a three-game losing skid that improves them to 116-4, good for third place in the Ram South Division.
After a slow first period in which the Golden Hawks were outshot 11-3, Golden Hawks head coach Doug Paisley pointed to his goaltender for keeping things scoreless.
“I thought Tyler Palmer was our best player today,” he said. “He was huge in the first period, we got outshot 11-3. He made a couple of really big saves and he didn’t let up. He was good for us all game. He made a couple of breakaway saves, one in the second and the third, and hung in there when we broke down.”
After a scoreless first period, the Golden Hawks opened the scoring as Brody Tallman made it 1-0 7:39 into the second.
Lethbridge carried that lead into the second intermission, but the Xtreme replied with a pair of goals in less than three minutes from Craig Armstrong and Ty Mueller for a 2-1 lead.
The Golden Hawks went on the power play shortly after, but it was Airdrie that almost went up 3-1 as Palmer was called upon to turn away a shorthanded breakaway chance to keep it 2-1 for the Xtreme.
Then with time winding down, Roersma managed to tip a point shot from Carson Haynes home with 5:48 remaining to earn the tie.
“I thought from (Palmer) out it got better,” said Paisley. “We had a lot of turnovers today, we have to clean that up. We were looking to get pucks behind their D and we didn’t do that. We allowed them to transition and they’re a skilled team, we allowed them to play with the puck.
“We took advantage of our breaks when they were there and I give the kids credit, that’s a big character tie. You get one late like that, it feels a lot better for us than it does for them on that tie. We’ll take a point against the top-ranked team in western Canada on the club side. So we’re pretty happy with it.”
On Saturday, Palmer got his
game face on and his team earned a point from it against a formidable opponent.
“I’ve been trying to get my intensity level up this season and I got it today,” he said.
That point keeps the Golden Hawks in the Ram South Division mix, three points back of the Red Deer Rebels (13-4-3) and seven points back of the 14-1-5 Xtreme.
It’s also enough to keep the Golden Hawks in the upper echelon of the league.
Palmer’s enjoying the battle near the top.
“I love this team, it’s a great league and a lot of fun being out here and competing with the top players.”
The tests continue today as the Golden Hawks head to Calgary to take on the Calgary Royals (13-6-2), who are two points ahead of the Golden Hawks and in second in the Challenger South Division behind the league-leading Calgary Bisons.
The Golden Hawks kicked off their regular season against the Royals Sept. 16 at the ATB Centre, losing 4-2.
“It’s been a while,” said Paisley. “We saw the Royals in our first game of the year. We were very disorganized. We were looking for some chemistry and trying to force some things and it showed in that game. They’ve had a good start and also have an invite to the John Reid (Memorial Tournament Jan. 18-21 in St. Albert). We’re looking forward to the game and looking forward to seeing if we can show a better game than we did in the first game of the season.”
Though it’s still a month away, Palmer was looking forward to the John Reid Tournament, an environment that agrees with the goaltender.
“I’m really excited, I usually play better in tournaments,” he said. “I don’t know why, but I do.”