SEPTEMBER 18, 2019
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Rangers Ring in Pre-Season with Victory Emily Mailhot Reporter – Vegreville News Advertiser After last year’s hard-learned lessons and transition to a younger team, the Vegreville Rangers are chomping at the bit and ready for action. Finally coming out of tryouts and training camps, the 2019-2020 Rangers hosted their first preseason home exhibition game against Ponoka and a community BBQ at the Vegreville Aquatic & Fitness Centre this Sunday, September 15th. After dining and celebrating the new season with family, friends, and fans, the team
took to the ice with “no chill”. Both teams battled it out in the first and second periods, leading to a tied score of 4-4 at the end of the third. Straight away into overtime, the Rangers fired out two goals, bringing the score up to 6-4 for Vegreville. Ponoka clawed their way back up the scoreboard as the clock ran out, eventually fighting their way to a 6-6 tie with only a few minutes left in overtime. As tensions elevated nearing the end of the game, some brief altercations resulted in penalties for both teams, but it was the
Rangers who, with strong defence and persistent offence, scored the game-winning goal with only minutes to spare and a final score of 7-6 for the Vegreville Rangers. Following this first game, the Rangers will compete with what head coach Sean Malone characterizes as defence-focused, offence-savvy, relentless playing in their upcoming exhibition games this week and the start of the regular North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League season in the next couple of weeks.
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