Just in time for the holiday season, the St. Albert Sabres offered their coaching staff another present.
In the second-last game before the Christmas break, the Sabres (13-5-3) displayed their offensive power in Sunday’s 7-4 victory over the Grande Prairie Storm at Akinsdale Arena.
“We had a good game. There is some things we need to work on but I feel overall our team played pretty good. We earned a spot in the win column, which is what we need,” said forward Tyler Mrkonjic.
In the first period the Sabres quickly captured a 2-0 lead with goals by Mrkonjic and Andrew Kary. After the Storm (3-20) responded with a goal, Kary’s second tally before the period ended made it 3-1. The rest of the game played out as it started with the Sabres in control. Guy Butlin also scored and Brenden Passek added three assists.
The Sabres pulled off a seemingly rare feat as Mrkonjic and Kary recorded hat tricks in the same game. Both players have 12 goals in 21 games.
“[The hat-trick] felt good but I wouldn’t have gotten those goals without the plays by my teammates setting it all up,” said Mrkonjic.
Patrick Dea posted the win in net as the Sabres outshot the Storm 33-32. The Sabres are the second-best defensive team in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League with Dea (6-2-1, 2.49 GAA) and Patrick Gora (7-3-2, 2.39 GAA) between the pipes.
“The guys feel real confident with our guys in net and both of them are playing extremely well,” said assistant coach Rob Parrotta. “Their job is to stop the first shot, then it’s up to our guys to clear the rebounds away.”
In the second half of the season Mrkonjic believes the Sabres need to focus on the present and then let the pieces fall where they may.
“We take it step by step and once the playoffs roll around, that’s what we will be focused on,” he said.
The last game before the holidays was Tuesday against the Maple Leafs (6-12-4) in Edmonton, but the score was unavailable at press time.
League play resumes on Jan. 2 against the Spruce Grove PAC Saints (14-3-5) at 2:30 p.m. at Akinsdale.
