Third weekend of the 2014/15 season will be a busy one with 15 games (3 games Sunday) on the schedule featuring a number of interdivisional games.
Brooks Bandits (1-1-0)
Will look for their first win at home this season when they play a pair of home games. Friday they will host the Okotoks Oilers. The Bandits won the first meeting of the season between the two teams last Saturday in Okotoks (1-0 OT). Saturday will be a re-match of the 2014 South Division finals as the Bandits welcome the Drumheller Dragons in the first of six meetings between the two clubs. Last year the Bandits were 1-3-2 against the Oilers, while they were 5-1 against the Dragons.
Calgary Canucks (2-1-0)
Hit the road for a pair of games this weekend against two very tough divisional opponents. Friday night the Canucks will hit the ice at the Drumheller Memorial Arena for the first of six meetings between themselves and the Dragons. Saturday the Canucks will head further north to take on the Camrose Kodiaks for the first time this season. Last year the Canucks were 0-6 against the Dragons but were 2-3-1 against the Kodiaks.
Calgary Mustangs (0-3-0)
Are hoping to pick up their first win of the season this weekend as they set out on the road for a pair of games. Friday night will be a rematch from last Saturday between the Mustangs and the Camrose Kodiaks only this time they will be in Camrose. The Kodiaks won the first meeting of the season (3-1). Saturday night the Mustangs will be in Okotoks to battle the Oilers in the first of six meetings between the two teams. Last year the Mustangs were 2-4 against the Kodiaks, while they were 4-2 against the Oilers.
Camrose Kodiaks (3-0-0)
Finally, the Camrose Kodiaks will play their home opener on Friday night when they welcome the Calgary Mustangs to the Edgeworth Center. The Kodiaks have already spoiled the home opener for three teams (Mustangs, Brooks, Olds) this season. On Saturday, the Kodiaks will take on the other Calgary team as they meet up with the Calgary Canucks at the Edgeworth Center. Last year the Kodiaks took four of six games from both the Mustangs and Canucks.
Canmore Eagles (1-2-0)
Canmore will play just once this weekend, and it will be Sunday in Fort McMurray to wrap up their week that started on Tuesday with a 5-4 loss in Olds. Last year the Eagles split their two meetings with the Oil Barons earning a 4-0 win at home while falling 4-2 at the Casman Center. Sunday will be the first of two meetings between the two teams.
Drumheller Dragons (3-0-0)
A busy week for the Dragons continues with a pair of games this weekend. The Dragons earned a 6-1 win against the Okotoks Oilers on Tuesday night. Friday they will host the Calgary Canucks at the Memorial arena. Saturday the Dragons will travel to Brooks to take on the Bandits for the first time this regular season. Last year the Dragons swept (6-0) the season series with the Calgary Canucks, while they were 1-5 against the Bandits.
Okotoks Oilers (1-2-1)
Also have a busy weekend following their 6-1 loss in Drumheller on Tuesday night. Friday the Oilers will travel to Brooks to take on the Bandits for the second time this season. The Bandits took the first meeting between the two teams 1-0 in overtime last Saturday. Okotoks then returns home on Saturday to take on the Calgary Mustangs for the first of six meetings between the two teams. Last season the Oilers were 5-1 against the Bandits; however, they struggled against the Mustangs going 2-4 against them last year.
Olds Grizzlys (2-1-1)
Will finish off a busy week with a two game trek to the North Division. Tuesday the Grizzlys held on for a 5-4 win over the Canmore Eagles. Saturday the Grizzlys will make their only visit to the Casman Center to take on the Oil Barons for the first of two meetings with the Oil Barons. Sunday afternoon they will be in Sherwood Park to battle the Crusaders for the first time this season. Last year the Grizzlys lost both their games (4-3 in SO at home, 8-2 in Fort McMurray) to the Oil Barons, While they would split their two games with the Crusaders with both teams winning on the road.
Bonnyville Pontiacs (1-1-1)
The Pontiacs will play a pair of divisional opponents this weekend as they look to move up the North Division standings. Saturday they will host Grande Prairie for the first of six meetings with the Storm. Then on Sunday they will travel to Lloydminster to battle the Bobcats for the second time this season. The Bobcats took the first meeting of the season 3-2 in a shootout when the two teams met in Bonnyville last week. Last year the Pontiacs were 3-2-1 against the Storm, while going 4-2 against the Bobcats.
Drayton Valley Thunder (1-1-1)
Drayton Valley will play a pair of games this weekend. Friday they will host the Sherwood Park Crusaders for the first (of six) time this year. They will follow that up with a meeting with the Saints in Spruce Grove on Sunday. The Thunder split the six games last year with the Crusaders, while going 1-5-1 against the Saints.
Fort McMurray Oil Barons (4-1-0)
Fort McMurray continues a busy September when they host a pair of South Division teams this weekend. Saturday they will host the Olds Grizzlys while Sunday they host the Canmore Eagles. Last year the Oil Barons won the game at home against the Eagles 4-2 but were shutout in Canmore 4-0. Against the Grizzlys, the Oil Barons were dominating at home hammering the Grizzlys 8-2 while they were in Olds the Oil Barons snuck away with a 4-3 shootout win.
Grande Prairie Storm (2-2-0)
For the first time this season the Grande Prairie Storm will hit the road as they travel east to take on a pair of divisional teams. Friday night they will be in Lloydminster to take on the Bobcats and will follow that up with a game in Bonnyville on Saturday. The Storm have yet to score a goal on Friday night but will look to change that as they meet up with the Bobcats for the first of six meetings this year. It is also the first of six meetings with the Pontiacs (Saturday) for the Storm. Last year they were swept (0-6) by the Bobcats while going 3-3 against the Pontiacs.
Lloydminster Bobcats (2-2-1) (game Wednesday)
A busy week for the Bobcats continues on Friday night when they host the Grande Prairie Storm before hosting the Bonnyville Pontiacs on Sunday. Earlier this week the Bobcats suffered their second straight regulation loss 4-3 in Spruce Grove on Wednesday night. The Bobcats have already earned a win (3-2 F/SO) in their first meeting of the season with the Pontiacs. Evan Tschumi lead the way for the Bobcats with a pair of goals in that game. Last year the Bobcats took all six games from the Storm, while going 2-3-1 against the Pontiacs.
Sherwood Park Crusaders (1-2-1)
Following their 4-1 loss to the Wolverines in Whitecourt on Wednesday, the Crusaders travel to Drayton Valley on Friday and finish off the week at home against the Olds Grizzlys on Sunday. Last season the Crusaders were 3-2-1 against the Thunder. Against the Grizzlys, the Crusaders earned a 5-1 win in Olds, however, at home they lost at home 2-1 last season.
Spruce Grove Saints (3-1-1)
Spruce Grove will also play three games this week; it started off with a 4-3 win over the Lloydminster Bobcats on Wednesday night. Friday night the Saints will travel to Whitecourt and meet up with the Wolverines for the third time this month. The Wolverines earned a 4-3 come from behind victory in the season opening game, the next night the Saints answered with a 5-4 win over the Wolverines in their home opener. On Saturday, the Saints will host the Drayton Valley in the first of six meetings this season. Last year against the Thunder the Saints were 6-1.
Whitecourt Wolverines (2-3-0)
The Wolverines will play just once this weekend, and that will be on Friday night when they host the Spruce Grove Saints in the third of six meetings of the season between the two teams. Whitecourt will be looking to build on their 4-1 win over the Crusaders on Wednesday night. The two teams split the first two games of the season with both teams winning at home.
By Chris Colwell