Jets fall to Merchants at home

Keegan Arcand makes his way to St. Albert’s net Sunday night. Arcand and the Jets fell short on goals and were defeated 3-1. – Stephen Dafoe Photo

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – A flat start put the Morinville Jets on the low side of a 3-0 first period Dec. 4, a situation the club was not able to rise far enough above to make the evening count. The Jets were defeated 3-1 by the visiting St. Albert Merchants who moved a little closer to the Jets in season points.

The loss, the Jets’ seventh in 22 outings this year brought the club’s record to 15-5-2, and although they hold onto the top spot in the Capital Junior Hockey League’s West Division, the club has fallen to third slot in the league overall.

Sunday night’s loss was not due to a lack of effort so much as a lack of the team’s big guns. When a player like Dalen Paul, who has scored almost a third of the Jets’ season total, is off with an injury, it is felt on the ice. Add to that another injured player Troy Roberts, who has scored almost 10 per cent of the club’s season tally, and you have a real deficit in scoring potential. The Jets outshot St. Albert 37-27 during the contest, but just could not seem to ripple the mesh.

The club takes to the road Wednesday night to take on the struggling North Edmonton Red Wings. The Jets return home Sunday night to face off against the visiting Edmonton Mustangs, a club also struggling this season. Game time for the Dec. 11 home game is 6:45 p.m. at the Ray McDonald Sport Centre.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email