The St. Paul Junior B Canadiens hit the ice skating hard this weekend with a game in Cold Lake against the league-leading Ice on Friday and against the second ranked Lloydminster Bandits at home on Saturday, but lost both matches.
Canadiens fared best on the weekend against the Bandits, but not well enough for the win and lost 5-2. The Bandits got on the board early on a power play and followed it up less than 90 seconds later with a second. The Bandits scored the next two in the second, followed by a goal for the Canadiens courtesy of team leading goal scorer Brandon Cantre, assisted by Jelani Whitstone and Skyler Giroux.
St. Paul's Pierre Beaudoin scored twice for the Bandits for his eighth goal and 15th point of the season.
With 52 shots against, goalie Todd Pooke had a save percentage of 90 and came up big to keep the Canadiens in the game. At 4-2 going into the final minute, the Canadiens pulled Pooke for the man advantage, but the Bandits scored on the empty net for the 5-2 win.
Calling the first period a little “sloppy," assistant captain Justin Dubeau said the team needs to improve on its full 60-minute game.
“We're still finding what works for us," he said, noting the lines have changed game to game due to injuries. “We've still got to work hard no matter what. That's what we're here to do."
While the team has lots to work on, it will end up in the top five by the end of the season, predicted the team's top ranking point producer, Giroux, who has two goals and four assists this season. “We have a lot of talent on the team."
Canadiens' goalie Paul Boulianne took an injury in Cold Lake after shutting out the Ice for the first 20 minutes. Going into the second Pooke defended the net. The undefeated Ice ramped up the effort, getting in seven in the second, with the Canadiens' Dough Morin scoring the sole goal for the Canadiens. In the third, the Ice scored twice for the 9-1 finish.
Elk Point's John Schmitt scored one for the Ice while St. Paul's Sean Joly made two assists.
The Saddle Lake Junior B Warriors had a rough ride in its single weekend game in Killam on Friday with an 18-1 loss. Cole Steinhauer scored the single point with an assist from Patrick Gladue. Despite the loss, goalie Matt Johnson stopped 71 of 89 shots against for a save percentage of 80, according to game stats.
For full story, see the St. Paul Journal on Nov. 8.
