Saturday night was the first regular game of the Rambler season as they met the Hudson Bay Hunters.
The Hunters have always been the traditional rivals of the Ramblers with the past two championship series being between these two teams. This year's Hunters, though similar in size to other years do not have some of the tough old stalwarts who made this such a tough and hard hitting team. Last weekend they lost to Nipawin and came into the game in Tisdale hoping to see their
fortunes
turned around. They have some good skating players and in the tradition of Hudson Bay can deliver a check but the quick defense of the Ramblers had them pretty well tied up in knots.
Tisdale's rookies this year are a tenacious group with former PA "AAA" Scott Holmstol and former Trojan Ryan Turcotte, Jordan Spagrud and the most defensive forward on the team Jeremy Markwart. These young legs have joined the clean passing well organised and experience Rambler team and Ramblers could easily have put considerably more then the nine points that went on the score board while the Hunters
were able
to put in four goals.Everyone I talked to is very positive about the superior play this year in the more balanced Pasquia league. Nipawin who had punished the Hunters last week lost six to three to Kinistino on Friday night. Kinistino, like Nipawin, Birch Hills and Mistatim have about the same number of first year players who have graduated from midget hockey and are enjoying the free wheeling and higher energy level of senior hockey.
Saturday night's game though high scoring saw only a few minor penalties and there were none in the third period at all. For more pictures of this game go to the Second Page.
