DIDSBURY - The Mountainview Colts split two weekend games, defeating Ponoka at home on Friday and then falling to Sylvan Lake on the road Saturday.
The games were the first for the Didsbury-based Colts in 2024 following the Christmas break.
In one of the Colts’ largest ever one-sided wins, the local team defeated the Ponoka Stampeders by a 17-0 score at the Didsbury Memorial Complex.
Colts forward Haiden Parks got four goals and added three assists in the victory.
The Colts also got goals from Simon Leischner, Blake Stoddard, Carter Hewitt, Harley Smith, Aidan Saunders, Kai Biggin, Emmett Barnett (2), Cohen Richardson (2), Mitchell McDermid, Paton Rothenbusch, Kannon Myram.
Colts netminder Kyle McGinnis got the shutout win.
The Colts travelled to Sylvan Lake Saturday for a game at the NexSource Centre, where they fell 9-4.
The locals got goals from Steven Bell, Rothenbusch, Hewitt and Parks, with netminder Jordan McGinnis stopping 33 of 42 shots.
“I never like playing a game and winning by a large margin as bad habits tend to creep in,” said Colts head coach Dan Visser. “Yes winning is what we want but I think it showed on our game against Sylvan.”
He commended Parks for his outstanding offensive efforts over the weekend.
“He is a big part of our team and our leading scorer. He’s a great player and a player who leads by example,” he said.
Parks leads the colts with 36 points, including 19 goals in the first 25 games of the 2023-24 Heritage Junior B Hockey League season.
The return of forward Steven Bell after an extended absence from the team is good news for the squad, he said.
“He is a great boost to our offensive attack,” he said.
The Colts are home against the Three Hills Thrashers on Friday, followed by another home game against Red Deer Vipers on Saturday.
“The (upcoming) weekend is huge for us to get wins in both games,” he said. “We want that second spot in the standings.”
The Colts are currently tied with Rocky Mountain House for second place in the north division, with 25 points each. Sylvan Lake is in first with 46 points.
