It was a mixed weekend for the Rocky Rams, who split a pair of games Nov. 6-7.

Rams blanked by Vipers

After limiting the Red Deer Vipers to three goals on Halloween night at Servus Arena, the Rams spent the week preparing for the rematch at home Nov. 6.

“The guys know what needs to be done to make a win against Red Deer possible,” head coach Braden Bystrom said.

Instead, the Vipers scored seven unanswered goals in a 7-0 victory. Red Deer opened the scoring at 4:15 of the first period and never looked back.

Rocky goaltender Maddyn McCrindle faced a barrage of shots, making 58 saves. The Rams managed just 16 shots on the Red Deer net.

Rams bounce back in Rimbey

The Rams travelled to Rimbey on Nov. 7 for a battle between two HJHL North Division teams near the bottom of the standings, with the winless Rimbey Royals looking for their first victory of the season.

After a scoreless first period, Rimbey’s Reed Toussaint opened the scoring on the power play just 38 seconds into the second.

Rocky answered with goals from Kit Hilman and Harper Francis later in the period to take a 2-1 lead into the third.

Nick Campeau scored 4:07 into the final frame to give the Rams some breathing room. Rimbey’s Chance Basaraba later pulled the Royals within one, but Brawn McKay’s insurance goal with 18 seconds remaining sealed the 4-2 Rocky victory.

The third period got heated late, with Rimbey’s Braxton Carmichael receiving a five-minute major for head contact and a game misconduct. Teammate Arthur Moar also received a misconduct in the same sequence.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Rocky, which sits fifth in the North Division with a 2-10-2-1 record.

Rimbey, now 0-12-0-0, remains the only team in the league still searching for its first win.

Rams begin three-game homestand

The Rams will open a three-game homestand Friday, Nov. 13, against the Cannex Cochrane Generals. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the Rocky Arena.

The homestand continues Saturday, Nov. 14, against the Airdrie Techmation Thunder, with another 7:30 p.m. start.

Rocky will wrap up the homestand Friday, Nov. 20, against the Mountainview Colts.

With files from hjhj.ca