Copperheads head into regular season after 1-1 preseason

Posted on September 18, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Garrett Simmons
Sunny South News

The Coaldale Copperheads split two weekend exhibition contests, as the regular season looms.

Saturday in Coaldale, the Copperheads fell 4-3 to the Medicine Hat Cubs.

After the Hat opened the scoring, BArrett Van Nistelrooy tied things up, as Roan Crowe and Caden Still drew the assists.

John Vanden Elzen put Coaldale up 2-1 with a second-period goal, assisted by Griffin McCulloch.

The Cubs tied things up at two with a powerplay goal before Van Nistelrooy responded with a powerplay marker of his own to restore Coaldale’s lead. Crowe and McCulloch were credited with the assists.

But before the middle frame was up, the Cubs tied things up.

In the third, Medicine Hat scored a late goal with three minutes and eight seconds left on the clock to win it.

For the Copperheads, Bowen Hann made 22 saves in his 28:35 of work in net, while Everett Hauck made 11 stops in his 31:16 of game action.

Sunday back in the Hat, Hauck made 10 stops and Brylin Noble stopped another 20 Cubs shots, as the visitors emerged with a 1-0 victory.

Spencer Talerico-Kucheran had the only goal of the game, assisted by Eric Price, as Coaldale evened its record at 1-1.

This weekend, the games count for real, as the Copperheads open the Heritage Junior Hockey League season on Saturday with a 7 p.m. game at home against Okotoks.

On Sunday, the homestand continues with a 5 p.m. contest against Medicine Hat.

Coaldale will play its first four games at home, as the following weekend will feature dates against Airdrie on Sept. 27 and High River on Sept. 28.