Parkland fills net in weekend finale
The Parkland Rangers put two days of frustration behind them on Sunday and salvaged two points thanks to a 10-1 win over the Norman North Stars. The win followed two disappointing nights at the CUP in Dauphin, including a penalty-filled 4-2 loss to the North Stars on Saturday night and a 9-2 defeat at the hands of the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday.
Friday’s game featured 39 saves from Chase Glover and goals from Cash Clarkson and Quinten Fisk. The first-place Wheat Kings showcased their power play, scoring five times on eight chances while the Rangers were two for six with the man advantage. Despite the final score, Parkland played two solid periods but couldn’t contain a lethal Wheat Kings forward group.
Saturday’s game got off to a flying start for the home team as the Rangers rode goals from Tavyn Boychuk and Cade Legaarden to a 2-0 first period lead. Things gradually came apart for Parkland with a steady parade to the penalty box leading to a pair of North Stars goals. Starting goalie Ethan Myhre was beaten high over his glove midway through the third period and Norman added a late empty net goal to seal the 4-2 win for the northerners. Myhre was strong in the Rangers net, making 21 saves in defeat. Norman was three for ten on the PP, a deciding factor in the final result.
Sunday afternoon’s big win was a testament to the Rangers depth and team spirit. The squad came out of the gate quickly, using two Hayden Seib goals and a single from Maddox Shindle to stake themselves to a 3-0 lead after one frame. Unlike Saturday night, the Rangers kept their feet firmly on the pedal, scoring three more times in the second period. Cash Clarkson, Ethan Carnegie and Cade Legaarden did the damage as the Rangers pulled away for good—four more goals followed in the final frame, including one from Seib to complete his hat trick. Ryzlie Nepinak, Landyn Garton and Alex Campbell all fired their first goals of the season to offset a late North Stars tally. Chase Glover made 26 stops in the Parkland cage to earn his second win of the young season. The Parkland power play scored five times in the game and killed off all six short-handed situations to reverse a recent trend. Several players posted multiple points on the evening including Seib (3-2-5), Legaarden (1-3-4), Ethan McMullan (0-3-3), Clarkson (1-1-2) and Nathan Miller (0-2-2). To top off the big night, Cash McCallum and Ryder Gardner joined Miller and Garton in recording their first points of the season.
Rangers Ramblings: Seib’s spectacular hat trick broke a seven game goal drought for the talented winger… Friday’s game was the annual Cancer Care Night and a large crowd turned out. The Rangers will be donating their proceeds to cancer care units in the Prairie Mountain Health region… Ranger captain Sam Swanton and alternate Maddox Shindle were guests on CKDM radio on Friday morning… Darnell Duff had the broadcast of Sunday’s game on CKDM, marking the second straight 10-1 game that he has been in the booth. The next CKDM broadcast is set for December 19 at 8:00 pm when the Rangers visit the Yellowhead Chiefs… The next action for the Rangers is Saturday, October 28 at 7:30 pm when the Kenora Thistles make their first visit to Dauphin. The same two teams square off on Sunday, October 29 at 1:30 pm… The Rangers currently find themselves at 2-4-2 and sitting in ninth place in the MU18AAA league, two points back of the Chiefs for the final playoff spot… Team Manitoba U16 claimed the gold medal at the WHL Cup this past weekend making it the first time this province had won the title. The squad included nine current MU18AAA players.