ST. PAUL - It was a tough 6-4 loss for the St. Paul Canadiens on Saturday night at the Clancy Richard Arena against the Lloydminster Bandits. The game was the Canadiens' last home game of the 2022/23 regular season, with playoffs set to start mid-February.
The 7:30 p.m. game started off strong for the home team, with a goal from Kelton McAuley just 15 seconds into the first period. A goal from the Canadiens' captain Kurtis Labant gave the Canadiens a 2-0 lead.
The Bandits scored one of their own in the first, and a third came from the Canadiens before the period was over, scored by McAuley.
Heading into the second period with a score of 3-1, the Canadiens held on, scored another thanks to William Chemago just 18 seconds into the second period, but then the tides began to change.
The Bandits found the net twice in the second period, and the Canadiens held on to the lead 4-3 heading into the last period of play.
The third period was the deciding factor, and the Bandits capitalized with three unanswered goals, the last being scored on an empty net. The final score of the game was 6-4 for the Bandits.
Athletic Legacy Scholarships were also handed prior to Saturday night's game by the St. Paul Jr. Canadiens Alumni Foundation. Current players Matthew MacDonald, Treston Moisey, and Ethin Campbell were this year's recipients. Scholarships were sponsored by Co-operators Saik Insurance Services Ltd., MCSnet, and Portage College.
The Canadiens will finish the regular season on the road with a game on Feb. 10 against the Cold Lake Ice on the schedule, and a game against the the Killam Wheat Kings on Feb. 11.
North Eastern Alberta Jr. B Hockey League (NEAJBHL) playoffs are scheduled to start Feb. 15. The league has eight teams this season.
