The Dauphin Clippers have fallen to eight place in the Westman High School Hockey League.
The Clippers split a pair of games last week, beginning with a 6-2 win over the Minnedosa/Erickson Chancellors, Jan. 14, in Minnedosa.
Josh Yakielashek scored twice to lead the Clippers offence.
Layne Wolfenden, Julien Lopez, Noah Hanneson and Norman Lacquette also scored, while Chase Glover made 28 saves to earn the win in goal.
William Melvin and Colby Pentecost replied for the Chancellors and Parker Soltys stopped 37 shots.
After Friday’s game against the Crocus Plains Plainsmen was postponed due to weather, the Clippers faced the league-leading Vincent Massey Vikings, Saturday, falling 5-0.
Tate Bercier, Theron McGregor, Josh Romanik, Joey Leblanc and Tyler Rogers scored for the Vikings and Hunter Gregory stopped all 38 shots he faced to earned the shutout in goal.
Glover made 15 saves through 40 minutes before giving way to Ethan Myrhe after he was ejected from the game at the end of the second period. Myrhe made 12 stops in the final period.
Clippers head coach Josh Yaschyshyn said the game against the Chancellors was a full 60-minute effort, with balanced scoring.
The game against the Vikings has a different story, however.
“There’s a reason they haven’t lost yet,” Yaschyshyn said.
“They work well as a team. Their top line is phenomenal. I think the lowest scorer on that line has 60 points. They do all the little things right.”
But Yaschyshyn felt the Clippers played well at times.
“For stretches of the game we controlled the play. We just didn’t get any bounces. But overall, I’m not upset or mad or anything like that,” he said.
The game was chippy at times. Glover was ejected with a five-minute major for attempt to injure at the end of the second period. That is an indication of the rivalry that has developed between the two teams.
“This is a little bit of a rivalry that goes back a number of years. The boys always looks forward to playing Massey. It was nice to see a little feistiness, for sure. It shows the boys care,” Yaschyshyn said.
The good news is the Clippers have games in hand on everyone above them in the standings.
And with a busy week ahead, they will make up some of those games.
On Wednesday, the Clippers are in Sandy Bay to face the Badgers at 7 p.m.
Dauphin will play their makeup game against Crocus Plains on Friday in Dauphin at 8:30 p.m., and they will host the Glenboro/Carberry/Baldur Wildcats, Saturday at 4 p.m.
On Sunday, the Birtle/Shoal Lake/Rossburn/Birdtail Falcons visit Credit Union Place for a 6 p.m. date with the Clippers.
