President's Update - March 8th, 2018

League Playoffs Update….The Bethune Bulldogs defeated the Strasbourg Maroons 9-3 at home last Thursday evening to take a 1-0 lead in the best of five semi-final. Mike Reich had two goals, including a power play goal, and two assists for the Bulldogs. Carter Smith scored twice and had three assists.  Drew George, Derek Fuchs and Jacob Ulmer also scored for the Bulldogs. Coltyn Sanderson scored on the power play and the last goal was a shorthanded effort from Matt Delahey. Mike Arnold, Garret Lockeridge and Tyson Orban with a power play goal scored for the Maroons. Ryan Holfeld stopped 28 shots in the Bethune net and Dallin Sorenson stopped 42 shots in the Strasbourg net. The Bulldogs had five minor penalties and the Maroons had three. This past Wednesday evening the Bulldogs defeated the Maroons 6-1 in Strasbourg to take a 2-0 led in the series. Coltyn Sanderson led the way for the Bulldogs with a natural hat trick. Mike Reich, Chris Merkel and Derek Fuchs also scored for the Bulldogs. Sean Delwo scored the lone Strasbourg goal. Ryan Holfeld stopped 25 shots in the Bethune net and Rhett Freistadt stopped 44 shots in the Strasbourg net. The Maroons had ten minor penalties and the Bulldogs had six. Game three is Thursday in Bethune with the remaining games if necessary being played on Tuesday in Strasbourg and Wednesday in Bethune.

The Raymore Rockets tied their series 1-1 with the Lumsden Monarchs on Tuesday evening with a 10-3 victory in Raymore. Josh Jordan scored three goals to lead the way for the Rockets. Cody Mapes and Michael Jordan each scored twice. One of Jordan’s goals came on the power play. Jessie Focht and Drew Kocur with a power play goal also scored for Raymore. Robert Hillier, Andrew Perrault and Torey Lindsey scored for the Monarchs. Dean Brothen stopped 44 shots in the Raymore net and Kurtis Sollosy and Will Hood stopped 24 shots in the Lumsden net. Lumsden had seven minor penalties, two major penalties and two game misconducts. Raymore had five minor penalties, one major penalty and a game misconduct. Kyle Johnson from Lumsden received a one game suspension for an instigator penalty. Chris Whitteron received a three game suspension for an instigator penalty, a game misconduct in the last ten minutes and for third fight this year. The Rockets and Monarchs continued their scoring splurge on Wednesday evening in Lumsden. Raymore took a 3-2 lead into the second period with their goals coming from Matthew Kinnunen, Tyrell Shulko and Tyler bell. Lumsden got a goal from Braeden Adamyk and Robert Hillier. Cody Mapes would score to give the Rockets a 4-2 lead early in the second period. The Monarchs would storm back with three goals to take a 5-4 lead. Justin Nychuk would score twice and Brady Aulie would score. Tyrell Shulko would score on the power play to tie the game 5-5 going into the third period. In the third period Kyle Schmalenberg would give the Rockets a 6-5 lead with a power play goal. Aaron Decorby would score for Lumsden and the game was once again tied. Andrew Perrault would then score on the power play to give the Monarchs a 7-6 lead. With less than five minutes left in the period Josh Jordan would score and the game would go to overtime. Three minutes into overtime Michael Jordan would score and the Rockets would leave Lumsden with an 8-7 victory and a 2-1 lead in the series. Dean Brothen would stop 48 shots in the Raymore net for the victory. Kurtis Sollosy would start the game for the Monarchs and Will Hood would finish in net for the Monarchs. They stopped 28 shots. Lumsden had four minor penalties and Raymore had three. Game four of this series is Monday evening in Raymore and if a fifth game is required it will be played in Lumsden on Tuesday evening.

Provincials Update… Two teams remain in the hunt for a Provincial crown. The Bethune Bulldogs play game two of the best of five ‘AAA’ Provincial series against Rosetown on Saturday evening in Bethune. The Bulldogs have a 1-0 lead in the series. The Lumsden Monarchs defeated Kindersley last Friday evening and won their series 2-0 and now will play Balgonie from the QVHL in the south Provincial ‘A” final. Game one of this series is Friday evening in Balgonie at 8:30 p.m. and game two is Saturday evening in Lumsden at 8:00 p.m. The Strasbourg Maroons lost game two of their Provincial ‘D’ series 3-1 and were eliminated. The Raymore Rockets lost at home to Theodore 7-2 last Saturday evening and will not be defending their Provincial “C’ crown.

To keep up to date please follow us on twitter http://twitter.com/HighwayHockey All of our tweets, which include updates from all games, appear on the front page of our web page. You can also follow me on the Pensky File on Twitter. Also look for our live game sheet for playoffs and Provincials on Twitter.

Lots of hockey still left. Please get out to a game near you and thank you for supporting the Highway Hockey League.

Gerry Tomkins

President – HHL