AAA Chiefs win pair of home games

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By Eoin Devereux

The Neepawa Banner

The Yellowhead AAA Midget Chiefs continue to make the Shoal Lake Communiplex a very difficult place to play for their opposition. The club played a pair of games at home last weekend. The first showdown was on Friday, Nov. 20, against the Parkland Rangers. 

The first period proved to be a very evenly contested 20 minutes of action, with neither side able to claim the early advantage. It would remain tied at 0-0, heading into the second.

In the middle frame, Yellowhead was able to score a pair of goals. Josh Belcher opened up the scoring at the 6:10 mark, with assists from Brian Mentuck and Tucker Scantlebury. The next goal was on the power-play, as Noah Geekie secured his ninth of the year. 

In the third period, Parkland pressed hard to get back into the game but was unable to solve Chiefs goaltender Reece Jones. Yellowhead scored their third of the evening 6:42, as Mackenzie Belinski registered the team’s second power-play marker of the game.The Rangers would eventually spoil Jones’ shutout bid in the last minute of play in regulation, to make the final score 3-1 Chiefs.

The next game for Yellowhead was on Sunday, Nov. 22, versus the Interlake Lightning. The Chiefs were able to control the tempo of the action throughout the game, leading to a dominant 7-1 win. Yellowhead scored three goals in the first and third period, and adding a single in the second ensure the victory. Josh Belcher had a huge night, generating four points (2-2), while Brian Mentuck added a goal and a pair of assists. Other scorers for the Chiefs included Mackenzie Belinski, Layne Toder and Dayton and Ryan Heino. Riley Lamb earned the win in net, stopping 28 shots, to help improve the club’s record to 12-6-3 on the year.

The next pair of games for the Chiefs will be away from the friendly confines of the Communiplex, as they play in Morden against the Pembina Valley Hawks on Friday, Nov. 27, and in Beausejour the following night versus the league’s top team, the undefeated Eastman Selects.