CANORA — One of the most important traits of any good hockey team is consistency. Even though their Sask East Hockey League season is only three games old, the Canora Cobras have definitely been showing consistency in the early going.
After scoring 11 goals in a victory in Whitewood on November 19, the Cobras faced off against the Orioles again in Canora on November 27 and continued to fill the net, this time skating away with an 11 to 2 win.
And once again, the scoring was spread around throughout the Cobras’ roster, with 16 players contributing at least a point to the offence. Cole Rathgeber, originally of Canora, and Tanner Denesowych led the way with a goal and two assists each, while Brandon Pelletier chipped in with three assists. Kody Rock of Canora and Donnie St. Marie each scored twice.
Rock opened the scoring early in the first period, but the Orioles replied less than two minutes later with a power play goal to tie the score. The play went back and forth for about the next 10 minutes, but the Cobras claimed a 3 to 1 lead before the first intermission on late goals by Darcy Sliva of Canora and Denesowych.
The Cobras scored four more goals in the second period, and led by 7 to 2 going into the third. Canora added another four tallies and kept the Orioles off the score sheet in the final period.
The Cobras outshot Whitewood 51 to 28, with Rylan Palchewich picking up the victory in the Canora net.
Coach Terry Dennis said it took a bit of time for the players to find their game on this night.
“The Cobras started out a little slow but began skating and passing the puck well after that. We played a strong defensive game and had good goaltending from Rylan Palchewich. Donnie St. Marie had a strong game with two goals. It was an excellent game from Skyler Hladun, both offensively and defensively, laying out some thunderous checks. It was good to get Tanner Kopeck of Canora back in the lineup after a minor injury, and he scored a nice goal,” concluded Dennis.
The Orioles and the Cobras were each whistled for six minor penalties, and each team went one for four on the power play.
The Cobras get this coming weekend off and then look forward to hosting two home games on December 10 and 11 against Ituna and Rocanville at the Canora Civic Centre.
