Balanced lineup key to Chiefs success
Mario Prusina
Times Editor
With a handful of regular season contests already in the books, the Wheatland Chiefs are still ironing out some kinks in their game.
That’s a scary proposition for opposing teams, as the local AA midget hockey squad is knocking on the door for first place in the league with a solid 2-1-1 record.
“We’re a big team, so we should be physical, we have lots of speed, lots of talent – we have a good balance of goal scorers and playmakers,” said Chiefs head coach Devin Olsen when evaluating his team. “We have everything you can want to make a good hockey team, we just have to put it together.
“If we work hard, we’re going to do well.”
After splitting a pair of road games to open the season, the Chiefs hosted the Calgary Royals SWAA Gold in their home opener on Oct. 8 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
Cody Burndred had a goal and two assists, while Justin Fraser, Brad Bergerman and Arron Durant each scored once to propel the Chiefs to a 4-4 draw.
Tyson Kapty, Matthew Queiroga, James Price, Scott Butters, Rylan Muenchrath and Abe Jensen each added an assist, while goaltender Daniel Baigent made 35 saves for the Chiefs.
“We didn’t show up – we knew what they would be like – we came out in the first shift and scored and we let them do what they do,” said Olsen. “We only showed up for 10 minutes of this game. It was (our home opener), we should have been pumped up – I don’t think that was a factor, we just didn’t come to play.”
However, the Chiefs certainly showed up in their next game, a 7-2 road win versus the Red Deer Elks on Oct. 10.
Alex Bechtold scored twice, while Fraser and Durant each added a goal and an assist to lead the way for the Chiefs. Price, Butters, Devon Westby also tallied for Wheatland, while Muenchrath added a pair of assists.
According to Olsen, balanced scoring is pivotal for the team’s success.
“All four lines have been scoring for us,” said the coach. “Pretty much every kid on the team has a point – it’s not one line or one kid doing all the work.
“We have four lines that go hard, they all have talent and they can all score goals, which is nice.”
The Chiefs were back in action Oct. 13 in Calgary against the NWCAA Bruins (results not available as of press time), before traveling to Cranbrook this weekend to take on the Ice Oct. 16.
Warriors split
After losing 12-4 to Cranbrook Oct.9, Wheatland Warriors AA bantam team opened their home schedule with a 7-4 win over the Taber Golden Suns Oct. 10.
Cody Willis scored twice, while Sebastian Wittenburg put on a clinic with four assists to lead the way for the Warriors. Tyler Sharuga added a goal and two assists, while Taylor Donner, McKay Bray, William Conley and Shane Frazer each scored once for Wheatland.
The Warriors will now host the Okotoks Oilers Oct. 16, 5 p.m. at the Strathmore Family Centre.
Braves falter in home opener
The Wheatland Braves AA bantam team fell to 0-3 on the season, after losing their home opener 4-2 to Red Deer Parkland Oct. 9 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
Kody Hammond and Riley Romashenko eached scored once for the Braves, while Matthew Quigley, Sarah Lecavalier, Tyler Pitrie and Kaden Hanas each added an assist.
The Braves will now travel to Red Deer for the rubber-match on Oct. 16, before hosting the Red Deer TPS Oct. 17, 4:15 p.m. at the Strathmore Family Centre.