The Fox Creek Bulldogs rolled in to Jasper last Saturday, for a two-game series against the hometown Atom Bears on the final Jasper in January weekend. While it is always polite to play the gracious host to visitors during this special time of year in Jasper, the Bears arguably went a little overboard in being hospitable to the visiting Fox Creek team. Both games were back-and-forth events with lots of scoring but in the end the tourists went home with all the hardware.

It was evident in the opening half of Saturdays afternoon’s tilt that the Bulldogs still had “road legs” as they could get nothing going against the Bears and first half goalie, Severin Golla. Jasper, temporarily forgetting their manners, scored two goals in the first off the sticks of Matthew Park and Drew Tank, both natural defensemen showing some offensive panache.

The Bulldogs were getting going as the first period wound down, but Golla was having nothing of it, stoning a Fox Creek forward on a break-away and blockering a shot that was top-shelf bound. 

By midway through the second period though the Bulldogs had shaken off the road-trip cobwebs and started finding their range. Two Fox Creek goals within four minutes just before the end of the second tied the game at two. But then Sam “Samboni” Howe buried a pass from Rhys Malcolm to give the Bears a one-goal cushion heading into the third. 

Two minutes into the final frame, the Bulldogs tied the score and a few minutes later took their first lead of the game with an unstoppable tic-tac-toe play that beat second-half goalie Duncan McLeod. Magnus Stenlund tied it for the Bears five minutes later with a magnificent play, but that would be the last sniff Jasper would get as the Bulldogs scored three unanswered goals in the middle of the period. Stenlund got the Bears to within two with a stinger from the point in the closing minutes of the game, but it would not be enough. The match ended Fox Creek 7, Jasper 5.

Sunday’s event was not for the faint of heart. The first half of the opening frame was much “sound and fury, signifying nothing”. Fox Creek drew first blood 12 minutes in, but then Eric MacMahon fed Trenton Rea who made no mistake to lead off the Bears scoring. Rhys Malcolm scored his first of four on the day as the first period was coming to a close, only to have the Bulldogs equalize moments later. The first period ended with the teams locked at two, but the second period opened with three quick Fox Creek goals. Not to be outdone, Jasper potted three goals of their own, two from Malcolm and one from Stenlund. Hard work along the boards by Adrian Nayak and Troy Jackson, plus Nathan Howes’ impressive rushes kept it exciting. Ethan Morin came within a whisker of giving Jasper the lead again, but teams would head to the dressing room for the second intermission tied at five.

Jasper went up 6-5 on the strength of Rhys Malcolm’s fourth goal of the game, but Fox Creek, as was their habit this day, tied it shortly afterwards on a two-on-one break from the blue line. With seven minutes to play, Fox Creek would regain the lead for the last time and go on to defeat Jasper 7-6.

Yet again, the Bears demonstrated generous hospitality befitting the season, but this largess will hurt their standings in the league.

Jasper in January is over, and next weekend the Edson Canadians roll into town for the regular season’s last game, Saturday at 12:30 p.m. I dare say that they will not receive the same warm welcome that Fox Creek seemed to enjoy.