ST. PAUL - The St. Paul Canadiens have started the 2023/24 hockey season with a solid effort, winning their first four games of the regular North Eastern Alberta Jr. B Hockey League (NEAJBHL).
The season started on the road for the Canadiens as they took on the Vegreville Rangers on Sept. 29. The first period saw the score kept close, with the Canadiens scoring first courtesy Parker Sabatier, and the Rangers responding.
The Canadiens would take the lead back before the end of the first period with a goal from Kaden Cardinal, and then the floodgates would open. Over the second and third periods, the Canadiens would score nine unanswered goals - three in the second period and six in the third period, for a final score of 11-1.
The Canadiens would hit the road again on Sept. 30, this time taking on the Lloydminster Bandits. The story was a little different in this game, but the ultimate result was similar.
The Bandits would come out strong, scoring two goals in the first period. The second period saw the Canadiens even things out, with two goals of their own. Another Bandits goal gave the home team the lead back briefly, but as the period came to a close, the Canadiens would even things out again, heading into the fourth period with a score of 3-3.
The third period would be the difference maker. The Canadiens took the lead 15 seconds into the period, but the Bandits tied things up once more. Then, a little over six minutes into the period, the Canadiens would shift the momentum, scoring five unanswered goals.
The third period also saw both teams wrack up a long list of penalties. The final score would be 9-4 for the Canadiens.
Heading back home
On Oct. 7, the Canadiens would host their home opener over Thanksgiving weekend in St. Paul at the Clancy Richard Arena. Taking on the Onion Lake Border Chiefs, the Canadiens would stay in control throughout the game.
A goal from Jarett Boulianne just two minutes into play would give the Canadiens the early lead and a goal from Cardinal would bump the lead to 2-0 heading into the second period.
Quinn Szpak would score two goals in the second period for the Canadiens, bumping the score to 4-0. Then, six unanswered goals by the Canadiens in the third would truly seal the deal, and give the Canadiens another dominating win on the scoreboard. The final was 10-0.
The next night, the Canadiens welcomed the Vemilion Tigers to town.
The Canadiens once again took the lead in the first, and held on throughout. Boulianne and Szpak would score in the first period, and only on Tigers' goal would be allowed throughout three periods of play. The final score was 5-1 for the Canadiens.
On the road again
The Canadiens will hit the road again this weekend, taking on Wainwright on Oct. 14 - last year's league champions.
The next home game for the Canadiens is set for Oct. 21 against the Bandits.
