Written by: Scott Savard
High River, AB (January 2, 2026) – The High River Flyers have officially strung two wins in a row after defeating the Ponoka Stampeders 9-4 tonight at Bob Snodgrass Rec Plex for their first game of 2026.
With the win, the Flyers sweep the season series with the Stampeders, as they took the first meeting 5-1 in Ponoka on December 20 to close out 2025. While the Flyers have struggled in the standings this season, Ponoka has had it worse as they only have a single win on the season, which came in overtime against the Airdrie Thunder back on November 1, 2025.
McCallum Bakken finished the night with six points, which now has him at 11 points (4G, 7A) in the last three games, including nine points (3G, 6A) in the last two games.
Both goaltenders would face an astronomical amount of shots in the game, with the Flyers holding the lead with 59-40 for a combined 99 shots in the tilt.
Kaiden Fulton made the start between the pipes for High River, making 36 saves in the win. Ray Musgrove tended the net for Ponoka.
The Stampeders opened the scoring early in the first with Nathan Bernhardt finding the back of the net just over two minutes into the frame. The Flyers responded quickly, with assistant captain Lucas Hughes adding his 12th of the campaign over a minute later. Bakken added the primary assist for his first of six points on the night, and Nate Matiowksy picked up the secondary assist for his first point on the night. Bakken would add a goal of his own at the midpoint of the period to give the Flyers their first lead of the hockey game; Hughes and Isaac Cayetano would collect the helpers.
Assistant captain Ethan Burgeson added his 13th goal of the season with help from Dane Christensen before the end of the first to head into the second period with a 3-1 lead.
The Flock and the Stampeders would trade goals multiple times in the second period. Ponoka cut the Flyers’ lead to just one goal with Karter Simpson potting a goal 4:50 into the middle frame. Bakken responded with his second goal of the night, with Cayetano adding his second helper in the tilt. Again, Ponoka would respond with Simpson picking up his second on the night. Christensen, who already picked up a helper in the game, added a power-play goal to close out the scoring in the second period. Burgeson added his second point of the night with the assist.
The Flock came out flying in the third period as they were able to pot three goals before the five-minute mark of the frame. Hughes made it 6-3 just under a minute and a half into the final stanza as Bakken and Matiowksy picked up the assists. Just over 30 seconds later, Cayetano added his seventh goal of the season and his third point of the game. Hughes and Bakken both continued to collect points as they added the helpers.
Zachary Warriner scored his first-ever HJHL goal 4:04 into the final frame, which would come on the power play. Dex Drewitz and Gage Hallam were both rewarded with the assists. Ponoka would finally respond exactly three minutes later with a marker from Dylan Kvale, but the Flyers held on as Christensen added his second power-play goal of the night. Cayetano and Bakken both picked up points on the Flyers’ final marker.
The Flock will look to take the momentum from tonight’s game to Medicine Hat as they face the Cubs tomorrow night.
