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Falher Pirates beat Peace River Stampeders at home

Emily Plihal
for Smoky River Express

It’s been a season the Falher Pirates should be proud of.

Despite a number of hick-ups throughout the scheduled games, the Pirates will finish in second place in the East Division. Their playoff hopes have been secured and they will have home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The Pirates welcomed the Peace River Stampeders to their pond on Jan. 29, hoping to maintain a win streak heading into the playoffs.

Captain Jason Bouchard was at the top of his game, scoring unassisted shorthanded at 17:07 of the first period. Shots on goal through the first period were 14–11 in favour of the Pirates. Three minor penalties were handed out through the first 20 minutes, with Keith Reade receiving a total of four minor infractions and Stamps Dallas Fosty receiving two minutes for cross checking.

Second period action started with both teams playing with sound defence.

First goal of the second was scored at 6 minutes on the power play. Pirates’ Denis Rochon scored, assisted by flashy forward Matts Maisonneuve.

Stampeders’ Chris Houlder responded at 12:33 of the second, with helpers by Brad Kerr and James Kennedy.

Stampeders out shot Falher by a margin of 11–9 in the second.

Seven penalties were given to players in the second.

Third period action was set underway by Pirates’ Jared Zawacki at 1:49. Keith Reade and Tim Clayton were awarded assists.

Pirates managed to capitalize on a power play opportunity at 12 minutes. The goal was scored by forward Matts Maisonnueve, assists were made by Ryan Hicks and Reade.

Peace River attempted to make a come back at 14:14 with a goal by Kerr. The lone assist was earned by Terry Houlder.

Shots on goal after 60 minutes were narrowly in favour of the Pirates. The Pirates shot 39 pucks at Stewart, Stampeders managed 36 shots on Falher Pirates’ starting goalie Stephane Pelletier.

The game winning goal was scored by Jared Zawacki. Power play goals were scored by Matts Maisonneuve and Denis Rochon. A short handed goal was made by Jason Bouchard.

Special teams were the difference in the 4–2 Pirates victory.

Pirates were unsure of who they would play in the playoffs as of press time.

They would either be playing Peace River Stampeders or Fairview Kings in the first round of the playoffs, depending on last weekend’s match-ups.

Falher managed to score two goals on the power play with a total of four opportunities.

Although Peace River had six power play chances, they were shut out by Pelletier and his teammates.

Falher Pirates’ Matts Maisonneuve fights for the puck against Stampeders’ Nick Laporte during the game on Jan. 29. Goalie Bretton Stewart covers up to eliminate any chance of the Pirates scoring. Pirates managed to muster up a 4–2 victory over the Stamps.