Coaldale Copperheads’ weekend includes win and OT loss

Posted on November 21, 2024 by Sunny South News

By Garrett Simmons
Sunny South News

The Coaldale Copperheads picked up three points in a productive weekend of league play.

It all started Friday with a 5-4 overtime loss to High River.

Coaldale got off on the wrong foot in the contest, as the Flyers raced out to a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes. Caden Heins had the lone Copperheads goal in the opening frame, assisted by Griffin McCulloch and Nathan Verloop.

After High River made it 4-1, John Vanden Elzen scored to cut the lead to 4-2, on a goal assisted by Verloop and Koden Lazar.

Brandon Creighton opened the third with an unassisted goal to cut the lead to 4-3, before Brett Hudey tied the game on a marker assisted by Creighton.

The Flyers scored in overtime to end the Coaldale comeback, as High River escaped with a 5-4 win.

High River ended up with 50 shots on goal, as the Flyers went one for four on the powerplay. Coaldale fired 38 shots and scored on two of five man advantages.

Joseph Rolfson made 45 saves in the contest.

On Saturday, the Copperheads skated to a 3-1 win over the Wheatland Kings, despite a slow start. The Kings led 1-0 after 20, as Wheatland held a 6-5 lead on the shot clock.

Vanden Elzen tied the game in the second on a goal assisted by McCulloch and Verloop, as the score stayed knotted at one after 40.

Vanden Elzen’s second of the game gave Coaldale a 2-1 lead in the third period. Heins and Verloop had the assists. McCulloch then put the game on ice with his goal, assisted by Vanden Elzen.

It was a bit of a low-event game, as the Kings held a 28-21 advantage in terms of shots. Wheatland shot blanks on the powerplay in six opportunities, while Coaldale scored twice on the man advantage on seven chances.

Brylin Noble took the win, as he made 17 saves.

This coming weekend, the Copperheads will be in Didsbury Friday to face the Mountainview Colts. On Saturday, Coaldale will host the Ponoka Stampeders at 8 p.m.