By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Hot start to the 2018-19 HJHL season for the Coaldale Copperheads

Oct 15, 2018 | 10:34 AM

COALDALE – Following a run to the Heritage Junior Hockey League’s championship final last season, the Coaldale Copperheads are sitting pretty so far in the 2018-19 season midway through October.

Coaldale’s record sits at 7-1-1 after nine games, good for second in the Southern Division and that’s not mentioning the game in hand they have on the first place Okotoks Bisons.

Thanks to a four-point night from Brandyn Howg, the Coaldale Copperheads posted a resounding 8-3 victory in their most recent game over the Ponoka Stampeders on Saturday, Oct. 13.

Howg scored twice and assisted on two other goals, while teammate Levi Anderson also found the back of the net once and while adding one assist.

Tyler Anderson, Chase Williamson, Jared Bainbridge and Brant Mack rounded out the scoring for the Copperheads, while rookie netminder Broc Merkl made 25 saves in the win.

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Leading the charge offensively for the Copperheads is defenceman Levi Anderson from Pincher Creek.

The 20-year-old already has 16 points on the season, with 9 goals and 7 assists. Last season, Anderson had 22 points in 20 games total, so Coaldale’s captain is on pace to shatter those numbers.

Forward Ty Abbott is the second leading scorer with 3 goals and 11 assists through nine games, while rookie forward Christian Dees’ 4 goals and 9 assists are good for third on the team.

Dees’ totals come in only eight games played, as he’s currently dealing with a suspension.

Backstopping the Copperheads early success is goaltender Nolan Berner, who took the starting reins over late last year heading into the playoffs and hasn’t looked back.

Berner has a record of 4-2 at this point, accompanied by a 2.52 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. Starts have been handed out fairly even thus far, with backup Broc Merkl currently 3-0.

Next up for Coaldale is a pair of games, first up this Saturday, Oct. 20, they’ll be in Stettler to face the Lightning.

Then on Friday, Oct. 26, the Copperheads head up the road to High River to take on the Flyers before returning home.

The Copperheads round out the month back at home in the snake pit at Coaldale Sportsplex where they will host the Three Hills Thrashers on Saturday, Oct. 27.