Elks slide by T-Birds into 3rd in FCHL

The Shellbrook Elks got a win without even hitting the ice Saturday night. The Beardys Blackhawks forfeited the game giving the Elks a 1-0 win in the record books.

The win, combined with Friday night’s victory over the Warman Wildcats, pushed the team past the Bruno T-Birds to gain sole possession of third place in the Fort Carlton Hockey League.

Elks 6 Warman 2

The Warman Wildcats drew first blood but couldn’t keep pace with the Shellbrook Elks in their game Friday night in Warman.

Warman’s Dan Lind put his team on the scoreboard with 7:30 left in the first.  Doug Harms put the Wildcats up by two early in the second before the Elks scored six unanswered goals through the next 18 minutes.

The Elks climbed back into the game with back to back powerplay goals from Aki Seitsonon 46 second apart, midway through the second.

Brock Fitch and Chris Thompson scored less than a minute a part to give the Elks a 4-2 lead going into the third period.

Mark Walter gave his team a 6-2 lead early in the third with a regular strength goal and a short handed goal 2:40 a part.

The Elks were 2 for 9 on the powerplay while going a perfect 12 for 12 on the penalty kill.

Elks 3 Bruno 5

The Elks January 17 road match-up with the Bruno T-Birds turned out to be a case of too little, too late.

After falling behind 5-1 by the third period, the Elks offence finally came to life in the final two minutes of the game.

The two teams played scoreless through most of the first until Bruno’s Brett Parker found the net with 3:26 left in the period.

Korey Diehl tied the score midway through the second before a three goal barrage for the T-Birds sunk the Elks.

Blake Huber scored a pair and Luke Strueby scored a single in a six minute span to end the second period to give the T-Birds a 4-1 lead.

Paul Strueby scored at the 17:13 mark of the third and it would take the Elks another 15 minutes to get back on the scoreboard. Chris Thompson scored with 1:59 left in the game while  Ryan Gareau scored 1:44 later to bring the Elks to within two goals but they ran out of time.

The Elks’ wrap up their regular season schedule with a pair of home games as they host the Prairie Outlaws Sunday, January 29 and the Tisdale Ramblers Tuesday January 31

The Elks open up the first round of the SHA provincial draw Saturday January 28 in Meadowlake. Game two of the serious will take place in Shellbrook on Friday February 3 while game three, if necessary, will take place Saturday February 4.

Puck drop for all three games is 8:30 p.m.