Neepawa Farmers fall to Cartwright, Gladstone

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Published on Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Photo by Eoin Devereux. Bret Levandoski (61) of the Neepawa Farmers watches a rebound bounce away from Cartwright Clippers goaltender Curtis Lovett (33).

By Eoin Devereux

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

What was once a comfortable lead atop the Tigers Hills Hockey League’s Eastern Division has turned into a paper thin margin for error for the Neepawa Farmers. Of course, the team’s recent losing streak hasn’t helped matters. Last weekend, the Farmers dropped a pair of games, extending their losing skid to four straight. As of Tuesday, Dec. 22, Neepawa was only one point ahead of the Carberry Plainsmen in the standings and three points better than Minnedosa.

The first game of the weekend for the Farmers was on Friday, Dec. 18, when they hosted the Cartwright Clippers. The visitors were able to score three goals in the first and hold on to a 4-3 victory. Drew Haight scored a pair, while Tyler Harris and Glen Young added singles on the way to the win. For Neepawa, Lance Nugent added two goals and Garrett Rempel earned the other in the losing effort.

The next night, Neepawa hit the road to Gladstone to face the Lakers and returned home on the negative end of a 6-3 decision. Kris Benson started things for Gladstone by notching a pair of goals in the first period. He’d add one more late in the third period for the hat trick. Jesse Hall added two as well, while Sean Kubas came through with one more for the Lakers. For Neepawa, it was Devin Epp who led the way, garnering a pair of goals. Garrett Respell added a single goal.

These losses dropped Neepawa to 10-4-1, good enough for 21 points. Carberry’s record meanwhile is 10-2-0, one point back of top spot with three games in hand.