The Athabasca Aces have improved quite a bit since earlier in the season. But they’ve still got a fair amount of work to do to catch up to the Slave Lake Winterhawks. Even a ‘Hawks squad that at times only seemed about half interested in the defensive side of the game in their Saturday contest with the Aces.
The ‘Hawks got away with it, obviously, and offensively they had more than enough for the job. Denfenceman Joey Dunlop got the first one past Aces’ keeper Jeff Creaser, a low slapper from the blueline in the first period.
Slave Lake’s second goal was a bit of a controversial one, scored by Brent Blachford with 13 seconds left in the first. The puck appeared to clear the Athabasca line before Al Beaulac hooked it back over the line. But the linesman called it onside and Blachford was on the doorstep to pot the rebound for his first goal of the season.
The Aces had the best of the play in a sloppy second period, but there was no scoring. In the third the line of Justin Dunlop, Brian Evans and Derri Deschover put on some pressure, which resulted in an Evans goal on a nice goalmouth passing play.
Then Brent Hill undressed an Athabasca defenceman and went in to score on a deke. Blachford finished off the scoring with a wicked slapshot from the blueline.
Sanford Lamouche, playing in the Slave Lake net, was more than solid, stopping all 33 Athabasca shots. The Aces had some really good chances too.
The game was notable for the return of Blachford, who has been nursing a sore knee.
On the whole, the ‘Hawks looked good at times, while at others they got away with play that would cost them big time (and has) against other teams.
This Saturday first place Legal is in town and on Sunday the league champion (but struggling) Lamont Bruins pay a visit to the Arctic Ice Centre.

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