Copperheads offence sputters in two weekend games

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Sunny South News

By Garrett Simmons
Sunny South News

Goals were hard to come by this weekend for the Coaldale Copperheads in Heritage Junior Hockey League play.

The Copperheads managed a single marker in two games, as Coaldale’s losing streak hit three games.

On Friday, Coaldale fell 4-1 in a road game in Strathmore, as the Wheatland Kings put the clamps on the Copperheads offence.

That was followed up with a 3-0 loss on Saturday at home to those same Kings.

Brinley Degenstein did get Coaldale moving in the right direction, as he scored an unassisted goal only 49 seconds into the contest.

The lead lasted just under eight minutes, as Wheatland struck back to tie it. Then, just over a minute later, the Kings made it 2-1.

That turned out to be all the offence the home side would need. Wheatland did add two third-period goals to put the game on ice.

Coaldale was outshot 29-24 in the game, as both teams went 0/6 on the powerplay.

Brylin Noble took the loss in net, as he made 25 saves.

Saturday’s home game had the Kings score first, just under five minutes into the opening frame.

Both teams played lockdown defence from there, as a scoreless second period was followed up by a third period that did not see a goal until 16:48 into the period, as Wheatland took a 2-0 advantage.

An empty-net goal with 50 seconds left sealed Coaldale’s fate.

Once again, both teams went 0/6 with the man advantage, as the Copperheads held a slight 24-23 lead on the shot clock.

Noble held the fort in goal again, as he made 20 saves.

Coaldale now sits in fourth place in the South Division with a 5-4-1, good for 11 points.

To wrap up October, Coaldale will hit the road on Friday to take on Okotoks. On Saturday, the Copperheads host Red Deer in an 8 p.m. game.