Chiefs battle through adversity

Posted on: Staff Writer

Mario Prusina
Times Editor
 
After earning a first round bye into the SCAHL playoffs, the Wheatland Chiefs knew that they would be facing a team with momentum in the second round.
So when the best-of-three series began, the local double-A midget squad squared-off against an Airdrie Lightning team that was riding high.
In Game 1 of their series, it showed – as the Lightning narrowly defeated the Chiefs 2-0 on March 9 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
However, instead of folding and calling it a season, the Chiefs responded by blasting the Lightning 6-1 on March 11, before closing out the series with a 6-0 whipping the following day at the Family Centre.
“They just started playing how they should,” said Chiefs head coach Devon Olson of his club. “They played with a little extra urgency, too – because it was do or die. 
“The (first-round) bye that we got didn’t help us. They came out flying (in Game 1) and we were sitting there after waiting for almost two weeks.”
The Chiefs will now host the Red Deer ProStitch in the third round of the post-season. However, he suggested, that his squad will be more prepared for the next round.
“They know what it takes to (succeed),” said the coach. “They know that they can’t give half an effort or three quarters of an effort in the playoffs. You can’t take any team lightly in the playoffs.”
 
Chiefs open third round
The Wheatland Chiefs opened the league semifinal series with a 7-1 win over the Red Deer Pro-Stitch March 15 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
Both teams exchanged goals in the first period, before the Chiefs exploded for six unanswered goals, en route to the Game 1 win.
Justin Fraser scored twice, while Cody Burndred, Alex Bechtold and Aaron Durant each added a goal and an assist. Matthew Queiroga and Devon Westby also scored for the Chiefs, while Rylan Muenchrath collected three assists and Justin Zeiler added two helpers. Wilson Sproule made 24 saves in the win.
Game 2 of the best-of-three series is slated for March 19 (2 p.m.) in Red Deer, while Game 3, if necessary, is March 20 (1 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre.