Palominos RHL Champions
The draw is set and we are just two weeks away from the big show!!! The RHL Champions will play the Spirit River Rangers out of the always tough NPHL league and should be a very tough challenge for the Palomino's who will need all players on their game. The Lakers will face off against the Satellites out of the BRHL which will be just as tough. Former Mustangs Ryan Olson and Dan Chambers also play on the Satellite team with Olson leading the team in points. Lakers have a little pay back for the Satellites from a pre-season beating 2 years ago, what a better place to do it!! Should be a great weekend of hockey!! Schedule
Champions in Style
The Nanton Palominos won the RHL Play-offs in style and on cruise control winning game 4 in Lomond 7-4. The game started out building up a 5-0 lead till miway through the second adn third were the Lakers had some push back and made the game close. With a short bench the Lakers pushed the score all the way to 6-4 into the third period and a critical penalty kill with a Lakers 5-3 stealed the Championship for the Palominos. Next for both teams and a much harder test overall will be the drive to Innisfail for Provincials. The RHL recieved one wildcard spot entry with that being taken by the Lakers and with the RHL Champion earning a spot for winning the league.
The weekend finals games 1 and 2 were just like it was predicted, fast, hard hitting and entertaining. Game one was back and forth all night with the Lakers leading 1-0 late in the third until Sapieha score on the PP and brought 284 people to a roar. In OT Shane Stewart netted the GW with 1:22 left in the first OT. GAME 2 was the Sapieha show as led his team with 2 goals and assistant to a 4-0 win and could of been much worse without the play of net minder Tesalk. The game got heated up in the third with the Lakers taking selfing penalties giving the Nanton the power play for much of the third period. Heading in Lomond this weekend the Lakers look to rebound back in the series and will be very entertaining, so take a half day off and get to Lomond arena for a good weekend in RHL hockey and let's not forget the WORLD Famous Lomond Burgers.
What a finish in the semi final series between the Lomond Lakers and Fort Macleod Mustangs taking it right to 7 games with a Lakers win 5-2. Hat's off to both teams for a amazing series. Now the Lakers will have to recover fast as the resting league Champions are ready to get back into the swing of things after made handling the Huskies in their series This Friday in Nanton will be a barn buster filled with hits, goals and amazing stops so fill up the fan buses, take a half day off work and make the trips to these games this weekend. Check schedule for series game date and times
Nanton swept the Huskies in 4 games in a one side series. It is very tough to win a series only scoring 3 goals, but playing the league champs is no easy task. Nanton will be the finals for the first time in several years and will be the favorite to win the league. But lets not count out the twon teams playing in the other series, second place Lomond and third place Fort Macleod who have battled to a series dead lock at 2 games a peice.
This series heads back to Lomond this coming Friday night and back to Fort Macleod Saturday night. If game 7 is needed it will be Sunday, with no game time set. Please check back to our website or join us on Facebook.
PLAY-OFF UPDATE
The first weekend is over and we have Fort Macleod and Lomond series tied at one game a a peice. Fort Macleod stunned the sold out Lomond Ice arena with a 6-3 win, Cody Hall was the games first star and was the deciding factor. Game 2 was a must win for the Lakers and pulled it off with only 10 skaters with a 3-2 win. Next Game for these teams is Feb 22nd at 830pm and Feb 23rd at 800pm.
The RHL League Champions are rolling over the Pincher Creek Huskies with a 9-0 hammering in Nanton and then a another 5-0 win in Pincher Creek. This maybe a short series but from history never count out a any team that is behind in a series. Game 3 will be Friday Fen 22nd in Nanton, with game 4 back in Pincher Creek Feb 23rd both games at 830pm unless otherwise posted on the league schedule.
League play-offs start this weekend with league Champions Nanton and runner-up Lomond both having home ice advantage.
Well it looks like we have regular season champions Nanton Palaminos, congrats on a great regular season!! Nanton will have home ice advantage straight through play-offs.
Lomond will finish in second with a another good year.
The finish with Fort and Pincher third is technical. If Pincher wins the season wins are the same, so it will come down to points won against each other. As of right now Fort leads with 7 points gained against Pincher. Pincher has a season total of 6 points. SOOOOOOOOOO, if Pincher out right wins the games with no OT or SO Pincher will be in third, if they lose or win in a OT or shoot out they will finish in 4th.
Lomond and Nanton please book your two home ice times. Play-offs will start the following weekend on Feb 15th. All series are a best of 7. With 2 game weekends unless the series goes 7 games will need a 3 game weekend. Teams with home ice advantage can decide if they want a series round of 2-2-1-1-1 or 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 series.
For the second straight season Hockey Day in the RHL is happening with the host teams being Nanton and Pincher Creek. Stay tuned to details.
December players of of the Months go to Taylor Elliot of Pincher Creek and top goaltender goes Mike Kraneveldt of Nanton, great job guys.
All teams are reminded that Jan 10th cut down list is coming fast and this is one opportunity to keep make some room for a late addition to make your team stronger and better for the League and Provincial play-offs. All cut downs are to be complete by 12 midnight Jan 10th. Preparation should start for Hockey Day in the RHL Febuary 9th. Fans look for good a good promotion for the homes hosting the event on that day, and make sure you click on the link for more details HOCKEY DAY IN THE RHL.
With the Holiday season just around the corner I would like to extend our wishes to all the families of RHL and Southern Alberta a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. In your prayers this of year let's also send a little extra to the famlies south of the border where the tragety of 23 families have to go through and cherish what is given to us everyday.
Lomond Lakers have signed Ben Thompson to a multi-year deal worth approx 0 million dollars annually plus bonuses!!! Brent will bring huge offense to the Lakers line-up and great creditbilty to the league and should attract more high end players. Details of the contract have not been made public but if you wish to watch him play head to any RHL game that has the Lakers playing and you will be entertained.
Great Start to RHL
The season has started out with some exciting hockey with one shoot out, an overtime game, and as well as a 2-1 win, it can not get any better!! This is something the league has been striving for many years and its finely here and it is exciting to play and watch. Check out the Pincher Creek Voice website to see some great video footage, but better yet get out to a game and support these teams. These men play for the love of the game, where pay checks are made a work the next day and they play for pride for the town tehy represent. If these guys win a championship it means a lot, as there is no bonus at the end of the season unless you get to drink it out of the Cup with the guys you went to battle with all year!
Thanks to AMPLO the player of the month, year and play-off MVP will be getting a RHL shirt presented to them with their accomplishment. Make sure you check out there website and mention the Ranchland Hockey League for league rates, ask for Marty.
The 2012-2013 season is going to be a very interesting one for the league. As you are aware the league has lost some teams this season, but the teams that are remaining will bring an action packed game, with exciting hits, plays and few fights and will be definite bang for your $5 dollar admission!
Look through the player rosters for uncoming bio's inputed by teams, profile pictures and get to know your local players and the players representing your community this season. In Febuary the league will again be doing Hockey Day in the RHL, with this years host teams Nanton and Pincher Creek. This will be a very exciting time at the arena as teams are planning some exciting events, door prizes and other hockey related events.
In related news to the league, the league has been contacted by Taber about putting in a team for the 2013-2014 season, pending approval.
I would like to thank all the volunteers, sponsors, fans and players for committing their time to enjoy the game of hockey in the Ranchland Hockey League and look forward to seeing you at the rink!
RHL Commissioner
Jason Hueppelsheuser
Season to begin Oct 26th, let's pack the barns and enjoy some great RHL action. Come back often to to see player stats, league and team promotions. Thank you all for supporting the Ranchland Hockey League.
