BARRHEAD-It was a game that had a bit of everything.
On Friday, Oct. 29, the Barrhead Bombers defeated the Hinton Timberwolves at home to kick off their Western States Hockey League (WHSL) season.
A portion of the ticket sales proceeds from the game went to help Jason and Kristie Schatz cover expenses incurred as the result of their daughter Aubrey's medical treatment. Five-year-old Aubrey is currently recovering from surgery at the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton, where she will be for the better part of the next two months.
The surgery is to help correct problems and symptoms arising from her acute scoliosis caused by her Beals Syndrome.
Bombers coach Dave Hyrsky said the game is indicative of what the WSHL has to offer.
"It was an exciting game that had a lot of speed, offensive chances, good goaltending and physicality," he said.
The Bombers got on the scoreboard first thanks to an unassisted goal by Chance Grey in the first two minutes of the game.
Barrhead would increase their lead about five minutes into the second period on a power-play marker by Sherwood Park native Cody Anderson, with assists from Justin Mandes and Austin Davis.
The Bombers would go on to score two more goals in quick succession at about the halfway mark of the period. The first was a goal from Kayden Russell, assisted by Chad Esperance. The second on a marker by Jeremy DeVries, assisted by Brendan Bujold. Both DeVries and Bujold are Barrhead natives and U18 Steeler alumni.
Hinton would cut into Barrhead's lead shortly after scoring a five-on-five goal just before the 10-minute mark.
The period would end with the Bombers up 4-1.
In the third period, the Bombers would go on to score two more goals, both power-play markers, the first by Cody Anderson, with assists by Josh Kochan and Jeff Mamuad at just over the halfway point of the period. The second, from Cody Anderson, with assists by DeVries and Bujold, who both recorded their second point of the game.
The game also featured three fights, two involving Bomber forward Josh Kochan. The second was in retaliation to a heavy but clean hit as he just got rid of the puck going into the Hinton zone.
Hyrsky said that despite the fights, the team was fairly disciplined, especially considering the physical nature of the game. He also complimented starting goaltender Zoltan Bencsik for keeping them in the game in the first period.
"(Hinton) really took it to us in the first period and we were a little flat. If it weren't for our goaltending, it might have been a different game. He kept us in it until we could get our legs moving in the second period," Hyrsky said.
He said he was also pleased by the performance of the special teams.
"We haven't practised it yet, because we didn't have our full group until a few days ago," he said, noting they only had 16 players and had to call upon Edmonton Eagles for three emergency players. We still are actively recruiting. By this time next week, I hope to have our roster up to 20," Hyrsky said.
WSHL teams are allowed up to 27 players.
The Bombers next play Nov. 6 and 7 in a pair of home games against Hinton and the Edmonton Eagles. Puck drops are at 8:30 and 2:15 p.m., respectively.
