Joe McWilliams
Lakeside Leader
U18
The U18 Thunder tangled with Wabasca on Saturday and came out on the winning end of a 12 – 2 score. It was a penalty-filled affair, with the second period especially having more than its share of shenanigans. Eight minor penalties and nine others were handed out in that frame, including five for ‘head contact.’
But apart from all that, Slave Lake enjoyed an edge in the play, and outshot Wabasca 58 – 26. Darren Gladue had a big game, scoring four times for the Thunder. Jethro Green and Cohen Foster got two apiece. Other Slave Lake goal-scorers were Kris Courtorielle, Nathan Hartman, Kolby Courtorielle and Paul Houle. Salah Baalbaki was the winning goalie.
The regular season ends this coming weekend with a game against Athabasca. No schedule for league playoffs was available by press time.
U18 Female
The Female Thunder finished off their regular season with a home-and-home against Grande Prairie. Playing in Slave Lake on Saturday, Emma Okemow and Meagan Pelley scored to earn a 2 – 2 tie. On Sunday in GP, the home team won 2 – 1, with Okemow getting the lone Slave Lake goal.
U15
The U15 Thunder wrapped up what has been a challenging regular season in Tier 1, with a game against Athabasca on Sunday afternoon. The Thunder carried the play and won 4 – 2, out-shooting their Hwy. 2 rivals 43 – 19.
After a scoreless first period, the Slave Lake pressure paid off with a four-goal second, with Damian Hill, Liam Dierker, Jonas Lillo and Koltin Davis getting the SL goals. Grady Beauchamp didn’t have a lot of work in the Slave Lake net, but was as sharp as his team needed him to be.
U13
The U13 #1 Thunder hosted Fort McMurray for a pair of weekend games. Fort Mac won on Saturday, 6 – 3. On Sunday, the host Thunder turned the tables, winning by the same score.
In Saturday’s game, Grayson Conrad, Daniel Normand and Dawson Taylor scored for Slave Lake. Dayton Seppola stopped 27 shots in the loss.
On Sunday, Seppola had a better game and his teammates had more success in finding the back of the net. Conrad scored three, Kale Whitney a pair and Rhett Broadhead the other.
The Thunder end the regular season with 10 wins in 16 games.
U13 #2 ended the season with a pair of wins – 5 – 3 over Wabasca on Saturday and 10 – 0 over Westlock on Sunday. Chase Blanchette scored the winner on Saturday. Isaiah Brown got the win in net
The Thunder end the regular season on top of the Tier IV West Division, with a record of 17-1-0.
