The Jr. B St. Paul Canadiens played a hard game of the country’s national sport on Dec. 18, with players netting goals back-to-back while another skated out with help after taking a hit to the face.
The Canadiens played against the Lac La Biche Clippers, losing 8-5 at the Clancy Richard Arena.
During the first half of the first period, the boys played a tight game answering each of the Clippers' goals with their own. But eventually, the Clippers led by a score of 4-2.
The Clippers are sitting second in the league with the Wainwright Bisons in first. The Canadiens are in third place.
“We did not defend anywhere close enough to compete with them on Wednesday. We've given up way too much lately,” head coach Shawn Germain said. “(There were) too many hope plays on the defensive side and that's never a formula for success.”
Lane Wycotte netted a goal for the team during the first period in a power play with assists from Shane Witney and Jason Pashniak. The Clippers answered with two goals. The Canadiens' Orrie Wood tied the game with a goal, and assist from Brendan Levasseur, but again the Clippers’ Brody Rosychuk answered with two more goals.
Rosychuk netted four of the teams' goals that night.
Wood kept pushing, and scored another goal later on, unassisted. Brody Green netted two for the home team in period three with assists from Brayden Goulet, Zandro Luck-Palliotto and Wycotte.
The night also saw Nathan Degraves escorted off the ice after what looked like he took a hit to the mouth. Germain says Degraves is a little nicked up but will be fine. One of the Clippers' goals - which was made seconds after Degraves' hit - was disallowed. Though not certain, Germain believes the referee deemed that there was a check to the head before the goal went in.
Canadiens' goalie Bradley Mistol was replaced with Hayden Lyons after allowing the Clippers to net two goals within seconds. Mistol saved 16 of 22 shots. Lyons saved 16 of 18 shots.
The Canadiens attempted 38 shots throughout the game, while the Clippers tried for 40 shots.
The boys also had a low penalty, spending just 12 minutes on six infractions. The Lac La Biche Clippers spent 34 minutes on nine infractions.
Penalties were given out to Goulet and Wycotte for boarding in the first period. Witney spent two minutes in the box for tripping in the second period and another in the third period for crosschecking. Levasseur and Arman Grewel also spent two minutes in the last period for slashing and holding.
The Canadiens play on Dec. 20 against the Cold Lake Ice. The team will play its first game into the New Year away on Jan. 3 against the Vegreville Rangers.
