Neepawa Farmers falter over weekend
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, December 15, 2015
By Eoin Devereux
Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press
The Neepawa Farmers’ 10 game winning streak has come to an end, as the team dropped a pair of games over the weekend in the Tiger Hills Hockey League. The first defeat was at the hands of the Gladstone Lakers, who outpaced the Farmers in a 6-5 thriller on Friday, Dec. 11, at the Yellowhead Centre.
Neepawa appeared to have the game under control, as they led 3-2 after the first period and 5-3 after 40 minutes of play. Tyler Lazaruk, Travis Tilley, Riley Kolesar, Clarke Rempel and Devin Epp each scored for the Farmers, to help the team enter the final period with a two goal advantage. But as the game drew to an end, it was Gladstone who took over the tempo of play and scored three goals, including a pair from Sean Kubas. Combined with his first of the night earned in the opening period, Kubas would end the night with a combined four points for the winning side. Jordon Geddes also scored a pair for the Lakers, while Trey Evenson added the other goal to hand Neepawa a rare home defeat.
The Farmers hoped to rebound from Friday night’s disappointing result, as they travelled to Minnedosa to face the Bombers. Despite Neepawa putting up an impressive third period comeback, at the end of the night, it was Minnedosa was able to come away with a well deserved 4-3 overtime win.
The Bombers’ Carey Findlay opened the scoring in the first period with a power-play marker. Neepawa replied in the second period, as Lance Nugent scored his ninth goal of the season. Just a few minutes later, Minnedosa regained the lead with its second power-play goal of the night, as Michael Birch scored 8:55 into the second. Just before the end of the second, Mark Willis added a third for the home side to make it 3-1 after 40 minutes.
In the third, Neepawa battled back with a pair of goals to tie the game and send it into overtime. Devon Spiess and Travis Tilley were credited with the markers, to ensure the Farmers at least one point and the chance for the outright win. That was not to be however, as just 1:08 into extra-time, Mark Willis added his second goal of the game and ninth of the regular season, to make the final score 4-3.
With the pair of weekend defeats, Neepawa has fallen to 10-2-1 on the season, good enough for 21 points. They remain three points better than the Carberry Plainsmen, who have 18 points, but three games in hand on the THHL schedule. The Plainsmen had one game postponed on Friday, Dec. 11 against Pilot Mound, due to road conditions. On Saturday, Dec. 12, Carberry returned to the ice and dominated Melita 10-3. In other action around the league on Saturday night, Deloraine topped Pilot Mound 2-1 in overtime, while Gladstone won its second of the weekend and third straight, by defeating Hartney 4-3 in overtime.
