Joe McWilliams
Lakeside Leader
Some hockey games were canceled or postponed on Saturday, Dec. 16, due to the condition of area highways. But Sunday the U18 CR Knights made the trip to Slave Lake to tangle with the Thunder.
It was a spirited affair that turned out almost exactly the reverse of the Nov. 25 meeting in Calahoo. That one ended 7 – 3 for the Knights; this time it was 8 – 3 for the Thunder, with the bounces going their way.
Kolby Courtorielle had a good game for Slave Lake, scoring three times. Other goals for the Thunder were by Koltin Davis, Liam Dierker, Eric Gladue, Braiden Giroux-Twin and Drayder Pearson.
In goal, Grady Beauchamp made 31 saves for the win.
The game got a bit rambunctious in the third period, with a few players being sent to the dressing room early.
The Thunder are back in action on Jan. 6 in Athabasca, and home on Jan. 7 to the same team.
Female Thunder
The U18 Female Thunder played at home for the first time since Oct. 21, hosting High Prairie on Dec. 16. The Thunder came out on top, by a 9 – 2 score.
High Prairie drew first blood, but the Thunder rolled with nine straight to put it out of reach. This was despite (or maybe because of?) having only 10 skaters dressed. Blaire Gullion, Jorgia Green, Maddison Green and Tayla Warman each scored two goals for Slave Lake. Alessandra Pruden got the other one.
Jerzie Green was solid in net for the Thunder, stopping 32 shots.
The Female Thunder are off until Jan. 13, when Beaverlodge is in town.
U15
The U15 #1 Thunder won in Calahoo on Saturday over the CR Knights and lost to Hinton in Hinton on Sunday.
Saturday’s game was 5 – 3 for the visitors, with Chase Blanchette leading the way with two goals. Also scoring for Slave Lake were Brody Whitney, Chase Mountain and Rhett Broadhead.
Isaiah Brown had to be sharp in net, facing 41 shots.
On Sunday in Hinton, the Thunder were shut out 4 – 0.
Next on the schedule is a Dec. 30 game in Edson.
The U15 #2 Thunder hosted Barrhead on Sunday and lost 17 – 1. Trestan Auger scored the lone Slave Lake goal.
Barrhead out-shot the Thunder 66 – 12.
The two teams play again on Jan. 7.
U13
The U13 #1 Thunder won both their games on the weekend to round out their pre-Christmas-break schedule. On Saturday, they edged Drayton Valley 7 – 5, and on Sunday walloped the Pembina Pirates 9 – 1.
Wyatt Wentworth and Benjamin Stone each scored twice for the Thunder in Saturday’s game in Drayton Valley. Eric Martin, Drake Conrad and Kade Morrison-Cardinal also scored. Noah Eben made 33 saves for the win.
On Saturday in Evansburg, Wentworth, Martin and Conrad each scored a pair, with Stone, Addison Cunningham and Dane Lukan also scoring.
The Thunder are back in action vs. Drayton Valley on Jan. 6.
The U13 #2 Thunder lost 5 – 0 to Barrhead on Dec. 15 and 4 – 1 to Whitecourt on Sunday. Viktor Doetzel scored the Slave Lake goal in Sunday’s game.
The team hosts Drayton Valey on Jan. 6.
U11
The U11 #1 Thunder lost 10 – 9 to the CNN Spurs on Saturday; on Sunday they turned the tables, winning 11 – 5.
Chase Ching and Cole Stone both scored hat tricks in Saturday’s loss. On Sunday, Jacob Pelley had the hot hand, scoring five goals.
The U11 #2 Thunder lost 8 – 3 to Edson on Sunday. Karter Seppola, Lynessa Pawliw and Faron Gladue scored for Slave Lake. Patrick Anderson made 15 saves.
