Written by: Scott Savard
High River, AB (January 9, 2026) – The High River Flyers made their shots count in tonight’s tilt against the Coaldale Copperheads, but came up short at Bob Snodgrass Rec Plex, 5-3.
The Copperheads heavily outshot the Flyers 55-13, but kept the score close with the brilliance of Erich Baxter, who made 50 saves in the game for the Flock. Everett Hauck made the start in net for the Coppeheads, and his late-game heroics held the Copperheads in the lead to earn the win.
The Copperheads opened the scoring near the midway mark of the first period. Brinley Degestien scored on one of the Copperheads’ 19 shots of the frame. The Flyers, who only had three shots in the frame, made it count as they answered back twice before the end of the first period. Isaac Cayetano tied the game up with his eighth goal of the season, with Bode Twigg and McCallum Bakken adding the assists. Twigg’s assist would mark his first-ever HJHL point. Dane Christensen, who has turned it on as of late, picked up his sixth goal of the season as the Flock were on the power play. Cayetano and Bakken picked up their second points of the game with the assists on the power play marker.
Lucas Hughes would give the Flyers a two-goal lead 15 seconds into the second frame, as the Flyers had scored three goals on four shots. Hughes’ goal marked his 14th of the season. Bakken and Cayetano would both grab the assists again. The Copperheads took the 4-3 lead before the end of the second period as they peppered Baxter with 21 shots in the period. John Vanden Elzen, Eric Price, and Choen Richardson all picked up the goals for Coaldale.
Cayetano had a chance to tie things up in the third period for his fourth point of the night, but Hauck would get across with a highlight save to deny the Flyers captain. Riley Preachuk cemented the game with eight seconds left with an empty net goal.
The Flock will be in Rocky Mountain House tomorrow to face the Rams.
