Copperheads drop two weekend games and fall to third in standings

Posted on December 18, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Garrett Simmons
Sunny South News

It was a tough weekend on the ice for the Coaldale Copperheads.

Coaldale dropped a 2-0 decision on Friday to Strathmore and followed that up with a 5-2 loss to Cochrane one day later.

The Copperheads had a strong first period against Strathmore, as Coaldale fired 13 shots on net in the opening frame. After 20 minutes, however, the game remained scoreless.

Strathmore scored twice in the second, as the momentum shifted and the Wheatland Kings held a 14-5 edge on the shot clock.

Neither team could tickle the twice in the third, as Strathmore skated to a 2-0 win, as goaltender Evan McNair made 28 saves to earn the shutout.

Everett Hauck made 27 saves in a losing effort for the Copperheads.

On Saturday, Coaldale fell into a 1-0 hole after 20 minutes against Cochrane, despite another strong opening period, as the Copperheads outshot the Generals 12-8.

The second period proved to be problematic again, as the Copperheads gave up 19 shots. Coaldale did score first in the middle frame, as Cohen Richardson tied the game on a goal assisted by Spencer Talerico-Kucheran and Ryan Burrows.

Cochrane took the lead later in the period and then made it 3-1 with a goal with 36 seconds left.

In the third, Cochrane quickly made it 4-1, with a goal only 18 seconds in, before Richardson’s second of the game cut the lead to 4-2.

The Generals added a goal late in the final period to salt away a 5-2 victory.

Hauck made 29 saves in the game for the Copperheads, as the Generals outshot Coaldale 34-26.

Coaldale will have two shots at redemption this weekend, as the Copperheads will be in Medicine Hat on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. game at the Kinplex. On Saturday, Coaldale will travel to Red Deer.

The two weekend setbacks move the Copperheads down to third in the South Division with 30 points. Medicine Hat leads the way with 35 points,