The Rocky Rams were defeated 6-3 by the Airdrie Techmation Thunder in game one of the HJHL’s series A division qualifier on Feb 3.

The second period saw a flurry of offence with the Thunder scoring four goals, including two on the powerplay.

At the end of 40 minutes, the Thunder had a commanding 6-1 lead.

The Rams special teams went to work in the third period. Owen Green scored on the powerplay and Bret Hymers scoring a buzzer-beater man advantage goal with 15 seconds left, but it was too little too late.

Goaltender Lauson Kolisnek was chased just past the halfway point of the game after getting peppered by 25 Thunder shots and four goals against. Backup Nicholas Smith fought off 14 shots with two goals against.

Solving the Airdrie team has been a struggle for the Rams for the entire 2025/26 season, as the team went 1-4 against the Thunder in the regular season, including a 4-2 loss to end the regular season on Jan. 31

Game two will be Feb. 7 at the Rocky Arena for an 8:30 p.m. puck drop. Game three if necessary, will be back in Airdrie on Monday.

Head coach Wendall Mason says he hopes to see a good crowd Saturday night. “Just like to get the community out and behind the boys for hopefully a long playoff run.”

The winner of the best-of-three will go on to face HJHL regular season champions Red Deer Vipers in the semi final. The Vipers, along with Sylvan Lake Wranglers, Mountain View Colts, Medicine Hat Cubs, Wheatland Kings and Cochrane Generals all got a bye to the opening playoff round.

The other two teams competing in the qualifier round is the Coaldale Copperheads and Okotoks Bisons. The winner will face Medicine Hat in the semi final.