BRHL teams back in action after Christmas break

The Battle River Hockey League took a break over the Christmas season with games resuming on Jan. 3.

The race is on as teams jockey for the best playoff position.

The Tofield Satellites currently sit atop the standings with 26 points.

The Big Valley Oil Kings and the Daysland Northstars both have 20 points with the Oil Kings having two games in hand.

Hardisty is in fourth place with 11 points.

The Hardisty Stampeders had a home-and-home series with the Satellites on the weekend.

The Satellites took the first game in Hardisty 6-5. The Stampeders had a short bench with only 11 skaters. A good effort kept the game close.

Hardisty’s goalie Jordan Ramstead faced 39 shots and Tofield’s goalie Christopher Roy faced 31.

Game two took place in Tofield on Saturday, Jan. 4. The Stampeders outshot the Satellites 40-35 and had some great break-away chances, but were robbed by goalie Matt Esposito time and time again.

The 6-3 score in no way indicates the play on the ice. Hardisty gave a great effort and out-played the home team, but couldn’t come up with the win.

The Daysland Northstars had a home-and-home series against the Macklin Mohawks. Game one of the series took place in Daysland on Saturday, Jan. 4.

The Northstars peppered the Mohawk goalie with 48 shots while Northstar goalie Scott Garnett faced 16 shots.
Macklin connected 3-6 on the power-play and Daysland went 1-7.

The final score was 7-4 for the Northstars.

On Sunday, the teams met again in Macklin with the Northstars outshooting the Mohawks 64-20. Andrew Sinclair was in net for the Stars. Daysland went 3-15 on the power-play while Macklin was 1-15.

This game was very physical and officials handed out 30 infractions.

The Northstars won 9-3.

The Stampeders will have a home-and-home series against the Wainwright Rustlers this weekend with game one in Wainwright on Friday, Jan. 10 and game two on Saturday, Jan. 11 in Hardisty.

The Northstars will have a home-and-home series against the Big Valley Oil Kings with game one in Big Valley on Friday, Jan. 10 and game two in Daysland on Saturday, Jan. 11.