Peewee Thunder advance in provincial play
eye on the puck - Vann Woodman, in white, of the Claresholm Peewee Thunder hockey team, looks to pass in provincial playoff action at the Claresholm Arena on Jan. 27. Photo by Rob Vogt
By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer
The Claresholm Peewee Thunder have advanced to the next round by winning their provincial hockey playoff series this past weekend.
The Thunder opened their two-game, total-goal series at home on Jan. 27 with the most complete game they have played all season, a convincing 6-2 win over Taber.
Paced by strong goaltending, solid defence, and timely scoring, the Thunder trailed just once in the game before taking control.
After Taber drew first blood, Jaxon Auld tied the game 1-1 with an assist from Nate Wright. Just under four minutes later Nate Wright gave Claresholm a 2-1 lead, with help from Vann Woodman and Cohen Cutler.
The Thunder would never trail again.
They got the lone goal of the second period, a short-handed marker by Clayton Van Langen, assisted by Cal Schmid and Woodman, to lead 3-1 after 40 minutes.
With nine minutes gone in the third period, Zakary Wright gave Claresholm a 4-1 lead, assisted by Auld and Schmid, then Nate Wright upped the lead to 5-1 two minutes later with an unassisted goal.
Taber had their chance to get back in the game, going on a two-man power play with seven minutes left.
However, the Claresholm defence broke up every Taber chance and goalie Max Buhmiller shut the door and turned Taber away.
Zakary Wright would add a short-handed goal with 3:47 to play, assisted by Van Langen to make the score 6-1. Taber responded with a late goal to make the final 6-2, going back to Taber for Game 2.
The teams faced off again on Sunday, Jan. 28, With Taber needing to win by five goals to win the series and advance to the next round of provincials.
It didn’t happen.
The teams went back and forth, tied 2-2 after the first period, and Claresholm leading 7-4 after two periods, before Taber stormed back with five goals in the final 20 minutes. It was just not enough as Claresholm added one more, to make the final score 9-8 for Taber.
However, Claresholm won the series outscoring Taber by two-game total of 14-11.
Nate Wright had the first five goals with three unassisted, one assisted by Woodman and Owen Stewart, and one assisted by Stewart alone.
Then Cheyenne Symens scored, assisted by Nate Wright and Tyrel Gertner, before Nate Wright scored, assisted by Van Langen. Auld got the final Thunder goal, assisted by Symens.
Claresholm now will face the winner of Nanton and Vulcan in the next round of provincial playoffs.