Copperheads offence in high gear throughout two-game weekend homestand

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Garrett Simmons
Sunny South News

It was a high-scoring weekend of Heritage Junior Hockey League action for the Coaldale Copperheads, as the team skated away with a loss and a win.

The team’s four-game home stand continued Saturday with an 8-5 loss to the Airdrie Thunder.

Aidrie got off to a strong start with two first-period goals, as the visitors converted on two of the team’s eight shots in the opening frame.

Coaldale’s Cohen Richardson opened the scoring in the second with a goal assisted by Roan Crowe and Caden Still, before Ryan Holm tied it up on a goal assisted by Kobe Fujita.

But Airidrie would go on to score three more times in the second, as the Thunder took a 5-2 lead.

A Riley Preachuk goal late in the period gave the home side some life, as the Copperheads trailed 5-3 heading into the third.

Fujita’s second goal of the game made it 5-4, as Preachuk and Holm drew the assists on a marker scored a minute and five seconds into the third.

Airdrie restored the two-goal lead just minutes later, before Jon Valden Elzen brought the Copperheads back within one. Lucas Alexander drew the assist.

Airdie scored a pair of late goals, including an empty netter, as the Thunder skated to victory.

Everett Hauck took the loss in net, as he made 16 saves.

Coaldale got back to its winning ways on Sunday with a 7-3 win over the High River Flyers.

It was all Copperheads early, as Eric Price scored in the first, on a goal assisted by Vanden Elzen, as Coaldale outshot its opponent 18-7 through the first 20 minutes.

In the second, Price made it 2-0 on a goal assisted by Vanden Elzen and Nathan Verloop. Vanden Elzen then extended the lead to 3-0, as Still and Richardson had the helpers.

High River scored a shorthanded marker to make it 3-1 before Griffin McCulloch scored to make it 4-1, on a goal assisted by Verloop.

Another High River goal made it 4-2 after 40.

The visitors would not go away, as High River opened the scoring in the third to cut the lead to 4-3.

That was as close as the Flyers would get, as Coaldale dominated the final 20 minutes and held an 18-3 edge on the shot clock to run away with the contest with three unanswered goals.

Fujita, Richardson and Holm scored the game’s final three goals, as McCulloch, Verloop and Price picked up assists.

Brylin Noble picked up the win in net, as he made 13 saves. As we turn the page to October, the Copperheads will travel to High River on Friday for the team’s first road game of the year.

Saturday, the Copperheads are back in Coaldale for an 8 p.m. game against Strathmore.

After four games, Coaldale sits in first place in the South Division with a 3-1 record.