Under-18 Thunder win, tie weekend games

By Rob Vogt
The Claresholm Under-18 Thunder remain in first place in the Central Alberta Hockey League Tier-3 Silver Division after a close win and a tie in weekend action.
The Thunder, made up of players from Claresholm and Nanton, hosted Taber on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Tom Hornecker Recreation Centre in Nanton, where they won a tough 1-0 decision.
The teams were locked in a goaltending duel, going scoreless in the first and second periods.
It looked like it would end in a scoreless draw, but Carson Ring potted the game winner with just 1:22 remaining to skate away with the win. He was assisted by Kalob Dallyn and Josh Gibson-Morrison.
The Thunder travelled to Taber on Sunday, Dec. 7, for the return match, which ended in a 3-3 draw.
Claresholm opened the scoring as Jace Flitton had the lone goal of the first period, assisted by Colby Symens, to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.
However, Taber would pour in three goals in just over seven minutes in the second period to lead 3-1.
Claresholm got one goal back as Flitton scored, assisted by Ty McLean, to make 3-2 the score for Taber at two periods.
The Thunder wasted no time tying the game at 3-3 as Gibson-Morrison scored on the power play just 42 seconds into the third period, assisted by Flitton and Ring.
There would be no further scoring.