Copperheads down big in series against Medicine Hat

By Cole Parkinson
Sunny South News

After sweeping away Kainai in the first round, the Coaldale Copperheads themselves are in danger of being swept in the second round against the Medicine Hat Cubs.

The second round for the Snakes saw its start on Feb. 17 with Game 1 going in Medicine Hat. The first period saw Medicine Hat take a 3-1 lead in a high scoring period. The second saw the Cubs add a single while the final frame had a pair of goals for Medicine Hat and one for Coaldale and a 6-2 final in favour of the home team. Thomas Johnson and Ryden Rempel found the back of the net for the Copperheads with Kale Amundrud, Krishan Stocker, Mason Sande, and Kolby James drawing assists. Ethan Barrows got the start for the Snakes and made 25 saves on 31 shots.

Both teams fired tons of shots on net with Coaldale posting 32 and the Cubs having 31. Both teams went 0-4 on the power play as well.

Game 2 saw a return to the Snakepit on Feb. 19 as the Snakes hoped to tie the series. The Cubs once again opened the scoring in the first and took a 1-0 lead into the intermission. The Snakes would answer right back in the second, but unfortunately, Medicine Hat would take the lead back late in the second period. The third was deja vu for the Snakes as they once again tied the game midway through the third, but the Cubs wouldn’t allow Coaldale to grab their first lead of the series as they potted a pair of goals to secure a 4-2 lead.

Jason Creighton had both of the Copperheads’ goals while James and Kaden Booth each had an assist. Barrows was back between the pipes for the Snakes and the Copperhead netminder made 33 saves on 37 shots. The Copperheads fired 24 shots on the net.

Both teams continued to struggle on the powerplay and have a rock-solid penalty kill, as the Cubs went 0-5 on the power play and Coaldale went 0-4.

The Copperheads and Cubs finished the weekend with Game 3 in Medicine Hat on Sunday night.

Despite a close Game 2, the Cubs were all business as the series returned to Medicine Hat. The Cubs would build a 4-0 lead in the first and extend it to 6-0 in the second. After another two goals in the third, the Snakes would score their only goal late in the third and fall 8-1.

Brogan Booth had the Copperheads’ only marker with Johnson and Derrien Tonin collecting an assist each. Barrows was the starting goalie for the Copperheads making six saves on nine shots. Logan Leroux was brought in and played the majority of the game from midway in the first and made 37 saves on 42 shots.

The Copperheads would fire 22 shots on the Cub net. Both teams also broke through on the power play with the Cubs going 2-7 and the Snakes were 1-6.

The Copperheads will look to stave off elimination on Wednesday night when the series shifts back to Coaldale for Game 4. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. If the Copperheads are able to get their first win of the series, Game 4 would go on Feb. 25 in Medicine Hat at 8 p.m.

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