Four HHL teams were in action this past weekend in the first round of Provincials. First up were the Cupar Canucks who were taking on the Provincial 'A' Champions Balgonie Bison on Friday evening in Balgonie. Balgonie had a 3-2 lead after one period and Cupar had a 4-3 lead after two periods. Halfway through the third period the game was tied 5-5 and it stayed that way until 12:20 into the second overtime period when Eamin Milligan scored for the Bison. The Canucks were out shot 51-19. Colby Miller stopped 45 shots for the Canucks. The next game in this series is at the same time for all of the second games for all of our teams...Saturday at 8 P.M. in Cupar. If a game three is required it will be played in Balgonie on Sunday.
The Lumsden Monarchs hosted the Grenfell Spitfires and lost 4-0 on Saturday evening. Mitch Kilgore from the Spitfires recorded the shutout with 38 saves and that is all you need to say. Grenfell had 31 shots.There were plenty of chances for both teams and parts of the game that each team dominated. The Monarchs had four straight power plays and did not score before Grenfell was on a 5 on 3 power play in the second period. The Spitfires Dan Hope scored their second goal of the game in the second period on that power play. Grenfell carried that lead into the third period. Lane Harbor, Sanfred King and Justin Hollinger with a power play goal had the other goals for Grenfell. Game two is Saturday in Grenfell at 8:00 p.m. If a game three is required it will be played in Lumsden at 8:00 p.m.
The Southey Marlins hosted the Carnduff Red Devils from the Big Six League on Saturday evening. Carnduff had a 1-0 lead after one period and a 3-2 lead after two periods. Southey would score twice in the third period and win 4-3. They carry this one goal lead in their two game total point series into game two in Carnduff on Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
The 2016 and 2017 Provincial 'A' Champion Bethune Bulldogs are back after participating in 'AAA" last season. The Bulldogs also have former Coach Don Ulmer on the bench for their Provincial run. The Bulldogs hosted the Balcarres Broncs from the QVHL on Sunday and had leads of 2-1 after one period and 3-1 after two periods before scoring one more time in the third period to make the final 4-1 Bulldogs. Game two of this series is Saturday evening in Balcarres at 8:00 p.m. If a game three is required it will be on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. in Bethune. Thank you to all for the streaming experiment. It went well and we hope to see a few more games streamed this season.
HHL playoffs have begun. First round series between the Cupar Canucks and the Southey Marlins began on Sunday evening in Southey. The Marlins won 3 of the 4 meetings this past season. There was no scoring in the first period. In the second period Cupar scored twice with goals from Brayden Frank and Cody Hall. In the third period Cupar scored in the first minute getting a goal from Kyle Hall. Southey would then score twice getting goals from Brett Mohr and Taylor Wilton. Shortly after the second Southey goal, Cody Hall would score his second goal of the evening on the power play and the Canucks would win 4-2. Colby Miller would pick up the playoff game win in the Cupar net and David Perkin was in the Southey net. Southey had four minor penalties and Cupar had one. Game two of this series will be on Thursday in Cupar at 8:00 p.m.
The Strasbourg Maroons will be in Raymore on Tuesday evening at 8:00 p.m. for game one of this first round series. These two teams split their four games played against each other.
Thank you for supporting senior hockey and for supporting the Highway Hockey League. Please follow us for game updates and League information on Twitter https://twitter.com/HighwayHockey or just check for Twitter updates on our home page. Please get out to a game near you...this is the best time of the season.
Gerry
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