Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
Nine different Manning Comets scored and Taylor Paulovich added a career high five assists in their 10-2 thumping of the visiting High Prairie Regals Jan. 19 but another story is brewing.
HP made the trip with only nine players, which results in fines imposed by the NPHL. With league president Jack McAvoy at the game, he will have first-hand knowledge of the matter moving forward.
MAN was not about to let the huge advantage slip in their battle for second place with the Grimshaw Huskies and home ice advantage in the first round of playoffs. Still, HP put up a brave fight, trailing 1-0 after one period and 3-0 after two despite being outshot 30-23. HP finally ran out of gas and MAN scored seven third period goals to win going away.
MAN leads GRIM by three points. Each team has four games left to play. MAN makes two trips to GRIM Jan. 24 and Feb. 1, however.
MAN also clinched at least third place with the win and still has a remote chance of catching the Falher Pirates for first place, but need a lot of help. Each team has four games left but MAN still trails FAL by five points.
Regals 2 at Comets 10
Saturday, Jan. 19
First period
1. MAN, Michael Gillen 5 (Taylor Paulovich, Joel Henitiuk) 3:44
2. MAN, Adam Larsen 4 (Michael Vreeling, Tyler Dillman) 12:41
Penalty: Jordy Greschner MAN (hooking) 19:57.
Second period
3. MAN, Jordy Greschner 1 (Payton Proskurniak, Taylor Paulovich) 17:24
Penalties: None.
Third period
4. MAN, Matt Boyd 6 (Joel Henitiuk, Taylor Paulovich) 00:40
5. HP, Verny Cunningham 1 (Dakota Conroy, Jamie MacMinn) 1:43
6. MAN, Jeremie Perron 3 {Adam Larsen, Michael Vreeling) 4:43
7. HP, Isaiah Letendre 5 (Brandon McNabb, Dakota Conroy) 5:51
8. MAN, Payton Proskurniak 3 (Taylor Paulovich, Matt Boyd) 6:34
9. MAN, Brit Olischefski 1 (Dalton Ducharme, Payton Proskurniak) 8:41
10. MAN, Matt Boyd 7 (Bo Asmussen, Taylor Paulovich) 10:16
11. MAN, Thomas Dechant 4 (Payton Proskurniak, Logan Newman) 14:24
12. MAN, Tyler Dillman 7 (Thomas Dechant, Jeremie Perron) 18:30
Penalty: Verny Cunningham HP (hooking) 14:40.
Shots on goal:
High Prairie 17 6 10 -33
Manning 15 15 19 -49 Goaltenders: Regals, Kent Ryan; Comets, Braden Gamble.
Power Plays: HP 0-1; MAN 0-1.
Penalties in Minutes: HP 2; MAN 2.