The Red Deer Rustlers and Lacombe Generals are off to hot starts in the North Central Senior AA Hockey League.
After a loss to open the season, the Rustlers are 4-1 on the season, while the Generals lead the South Division with a 4-1 record as well. The Generals have a league-high 37 goals for and a league-low 14 goals against, while the Rustlers have 33 goals for and 20 against.
Lacombe blew out the Bonnyville Pontiacs Saturday night on the road with a 10-4 victory.
Jamie Johnson led the way for Lacombe with six points (2G, 4A) in the win, while Cam Maclise chipped in a pair of goals and three assists. Patrick Martens also had two goals and a helper for Lacombe, while Beaudon Rider, Tyler Leech, Kyle Maas and Scott Doucet each added a goal.
Mackenzie Engel made 23 saves in net for the win.
The Rustlers also earned a blowout victory, topping the Camrose Bruins 9-3 on the road. Tyler Berkoltz led the way with a hat trick and an assist, while four other Rustlers had multi-point games. Lane Sim and Zachary Evans-Renaud each had two goals, Matthew Belich had two assists and Tim Vanstone had a goal and an assist.
Dustin Claffey also added a goal for Red Deer. Brodan Salmond stopped 44 shots in the Red Deer net for the win.
Red Deer and Lacombe both play on the road this weekend, before meeting up on Nov. 18 in Lacombe at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex for a 7:45 p.m. puck drop.
The Rustlers next home game is Nov. 25 in Penhold at 7:30 p.m.