Rangers make most of single goal in 2024
The Parkland Rangers returned from the Christmas break aiming to climb in the Manitoba U18 AAA League standings but faced a trio of challenging games against the league’s top two teams. The Rangers visited the league leading Brandon Wheat Kings before a home and home series with the second place Southwest Cougars. The squad managed to squeeze out a 2-1 shootout win against the Cougars that was sandwiched by a pair of shutout losses. The results leave the Rangers in 10th place, three points out of a playoff spot but with games in hand on all the teams they are chasing.
After two practices, the Rangers return to action on January 3 was a tough 9-0 loss to the first-place Wheat Kings in Brandon. Parkland trailed just 2-0 to the powerful hosts at the midway point of the game but things turned sour quickly despite Chase Glover’s 31 saves.
The Rangers returned home on Saturday, January 6 for an evening showdown with the Cougars. The Rangers clearly enjoyed their return to the confines of Dauphin’s CUP as they rode Glover’s 42 saves to a massive 2-1 shootout victory. Landyn Garton stole an errant Cougars pass in the neutral zone and blew a shot by Southwest goalie Micky Gross just 3:11 into the opening frame to stake the home team to a lead that they battled to maintain for the next 56 minutes. A Cougar goal 4:45 into the final frame set up a blockbuster finish and both teams took turns trying to find a winner. The Rangers killed off all seven Southwest power plays on the night to give Quinten Fisk a chance to win the game with the Rangers final attempt of the shootout after Glover slammed the door on three Southwest shooters. Fisk made no mistake and the Rangers grabbed an enormous two points in their quest to make the playoffs.
The Sunday rematch in Souris was less rewarding in the standings, but the Rangers did play a solid road game in a tough barn. Parkland got 30 saves from Ethan Myhre but an 0/7 on the powerplay and some great goaltending by the Cougars Evan Svoboda doomed the visitors to a 6-0 defeat.
Next up for the Rangers is a road trip to Winnipeg to face the defending champion Winnipeg Wild, before a visit to the third placed Interlake Lightning in Teulon. With just 18 games remaining on the schedule, the playoff push is here for the Rangers.
Rangers ramblings: Former Ranger Trey Sauder was traded from the Swan Valley Stampeders to the Steinbach Pistons in the MJHL this week. Sauder served as the Stamps captain this season and will now have a real opportunity to win an MJHL Turnbull Cup… Riece Gaber, UND captain, recorded six points over two games this past weekend as the Fighting Hawks swept the University of Alaska Nanooks… Havryil Simchuk recorded one goal and one assist in five games as Ukraine finished second in the World Junior Hockey Championships ‘B’ Pool… Linden Smigelsky made his Capital Region Junior Hockey League debut when he suited up for the Lundar Falcons over the break… Hayden Seib and Cash Clarkson moved into a tie for 20th in career games played as Rangers on Sunday. The pair have played 114 times for Parkland, only 19 games behind franchise leader Jaeger Lapointe’s 133 games played.