The Red Deer Vipers ran into a hot netminder Saturday and suffered a 5-0 Heritage Junior B Hockey League loss to the host Strathmore Wheatland Kings.
Richie Hubbell stopped all 43 shots he faced while Andrew Bergman contributed two goals and Ross Fox had a goal and two assists. Brenden Mandrusiak made 24 saves at the other end.
In another Saturday contest, the host Three Hills Thrashers blanked the Stettler Lightning 3-0 as Michael Neumeier, Cameron Braun and Tom Vanderlinde supplied the goals and Devon Dell blocked 33 shots for the shutout. Simon Thieleman also stood tall for the Lightning with a 47-save outing.
The Lightning also came out on the short end of a 2-1 count Friday at High River, where the host Flyers fired 33 shots at Thieleman while giving up 32. Alex Pronchuk scored both High River goals, with Landon Potter accounting for the lone Stettler marker.
Also on Friday, Three Hills got a third-period goal from Tyrel Severtson — his second of the game — and edged the visiting Blackfalds Wranglers 3-2.
Vanderlinde also tallied for the Thrashers. Scoring for the Wranglers were Landon Wolitski and Jared Ramstead.
Dell stood out for Three Hills with a 46-save performance. Layne Swier blocked 31 shots at the other end.