The St. Albert Merchants and North Edmonton Red Wings hook up tonight in the Capital Junior B Hockey League. Faceoff is 8 p.m. at Clareview Arena.
Six points separate the second-place Red Wings (14-7-0-2) and fifth-place Merchants (12-10) in the west division.
The seventh win in nine games for the Merchants was Sunday’s 4-2 effort against the Edmonton Mustangs (9-10-0-3) at Akinsdale Arena. Third-period goals 24 seconds apart by Nicolas Addessi (10th) and Jake Behiels (22nd) broke a 2-2 tie. Stefan Meunier scored his first goal as a Merchant, following a brief stint with the Drayton Valley Thunder in the AJHL, in period one, along with Brayden Switner (sixth). Alex Hawirko drew three assists. In net was Curtis Ronaldson (7-7, 3.37 GAA).
On Friday the Merchants visit the east division-leading Beaumont Chiefs (17-6-0-1) at 8:30 p.m.
The next home game is Sunday versus the Spruce Grove Regals (12-7-0-2) at 8 p.m.
The St. Albert Sabres skate Saturday in Fort Saskatchewan against the Rangers in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League. Puck drop is 3:15 p.m.
The Sabres (10-5-3) and Rangers (6-9-4) are ranked second and fourth, respectively, in their divisions.
St. Albert’s seven-game winning streak ended Sunday with a 3-2 loss to the SSAC Southgate Lions (12-3-3) at Millwoods Arena. They now trail the Lions by four points in the division pennant race.
Three straight goals in period three put the Lions on top. The game winner was scored with 2:49 to play. Brett Smythe (12th) and Brett Van Os (sixth) potted goals for the Sabres. Shots were 39-17 for the Lions. In net was Patrick Gora (6-3-2, 2.33 GAA).
The St. Albert Slash host the Medicine Hat Hounds at 2:15 p.m. Saturday at Performance Arena in the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League.
The Slash (14-3-3) are second in the north and the Hounds (12-4-4) are third in the south.
Last weekend the Slash posted a 4-3 win over the Fury (7-16) in Sherwood Park. Karly Heffernan sniped her 12th and 13th goals. The team’s top scorer with 33 points in 20 goals was named the north division player of the month for November. The Grade 9 Vimy Ridge Academy student recorded four goals and seven assists in six games last month.
Krystal Reithmayer (eighth) tallied once in the Park and added two assists. Charity Price (sixth) also scored. Ashley Morin picked up three assists and Deanna Morin had two helpers. Shots were 42-21 for St. Albert. In net was Chloe Sanderson (7-0-2, 1.60 GAA).
