The Ghostriders lost 5-4 to Kimberley Tuesday night in Sparwood on a fluke goal from a point shot that bounced around before going in.
Mason Palaga got the goal but in another era he wouldn't even be on the ice. Palaga went to the Rider bench and challenged the Riders smallest player Mitch Titus to fight then said he would fight anyone else... but when Jake Hryhoriw challenged him in the second period he went down faster than a porn star and Jake got the only PIM.
No issue at all with that in the playoffs, I get it, but at this time of year with a 17 point lead in the standings and right after their Lucas Purdy jumped a top pairing D- Man, it was nothing short of gutless. I sure hope you coaches in the division don't give Stuart any votes when you vote for the "Coach of the Year".
The power play was the difference in Tuesday's game. Kimberley, who are 4th overall in the league on the PP went 3-7 and the Riders who are 7th went 1-5.
Sixteen year old Ethan Jang scored one of the nicest goals of the game on a shorthanded breakaway. It was his 4th of the season.
Greg Susinski scored his first goal as a forward Tuesday. He really looks at home on the wing.
Keelan Saworski continued his point streak but despite getting a few grade A scoring chances he had his goal streak broken at 8 games.
Mitch Titus had a goal and an assist and is just 1 point behind Saworski for the Rider's top scorer.
Broc Merkl was the Riders POG, to bad after that effort a fluke goal steals at least a point from the Riders. And maybe two as the boys were equal or better in the third.
Kevin Pierce scored the other Rider goal on the PP, his 3rd PP goal so far this year.
Kyle Haugo made a few great stops in his end of the ice Tuesday and used his body well. Coach Mohr agrees and says he played pretty good in Creston too. You can always say that about Grayson Neufeld, a nice skater as well. Wondering why that guy didn't challenge him, oh yeah I forgot he might be able to fight...
Jake Beranek has decided to play Midget this season where he will get a ton of ice time that he wasn't getting with the Ghost. We hear they have enough players to form a team so lots of ice time and a few AP games may really help him get ready as an 18 year old next year.
Injuries, Owen Titus, Shaun Pierce, Zak Larson and now Matt Rogers are all out for the weekend game vs the Rockies.
The Rockies have 15 points but the Riders have 4 games in hand... but to catch up they will have to win a few of them.
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