Copperheads take two in HJHL weekend action

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Garrett Simmons
Sunny South News

A pair of 5-4 victories highlighted a successful weekend in Heritage Junior Hockey League play for the Coaldale Copperheads.

On Friday, Coaldale earned a 5-4 victory over the Okotoks Bisons. Okotoks led 1-0 after 20, before Coaldale struck back in the second with goals from Griffin McCulloch and Ryan Crowe. Cohen Richardson and Nathan Verloop had the assists on Verloop’s marker. Coaldale made it 3-1 with a Richardson powerplay goal in the third, assisted by Verloop and John Vanden Elzen.

But Okotoks turned the tables with three consecutive goals, as the Bisons took a 4-3 lead.

A late rally by the Copperheads saw Kobe Fujita score the equalizer, assisted by Riley Preachuk and Eric Price.

Then, with a minute and six seconds left on the clock, Verloop scored the game winner on a setup by Richardson and Vanden Elzen.

Everett Hauck earned the win in goal, as the puck stopper saved 22 Okotoks shots.

A day later, Coaldale took a 5-4 decision over the Sylvan Lake Wranglers, in a game that went to overtime.

After Sylvan took a 1-0 lead, Verloop tied things up with a goal assisted by Vanden Elzen and Hauck. Fujita’s powerplay tally made it 2-1, as Price had the helper.

A busy second period saw the Wranglers tie things up before goals from Caden Still and Fujita restored the lead. Ryan Crowe and Barrett Van Nistel Rooy assisted on the first Copperheads goal of the period, while Price drew the assist on Fujita’s goal.

As the period was winding down, however, the Wrangler scored with 38 seconds left to close the gap to 4-3.

Sylvan Lake added a late powerplay goal in the third to tie things up, which set the stage for overtime.

In the extra frame, Fujita scored his 10th goal of the season to catapult the Copperheads to victory. McCulloch picked up the assist on the game-winning goal.

Hauck stood tall in net, as the puckstopper made 36 saves for the win.

This weekend, Coaldale will entertain Medicine Hat for a Sunday game at home. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m.