Chiefs look to rebound after loss

Times Editor

 

By the time you read this, the SCAHL Midget Championship may be crowned.

However, as of press time, the best-of-five championship series was tied 1-1, after the Wheatland Chiefs suffered a 5-3 home loss in Game 2 on March 29 versus the Foothills Bisons.

As a result, the Chiefs lost home-ice advantage and are now forced to win at least one game on the road if they expect to be crowned the league champions.

“We were just selfish – too many selfish players. We weren’t working as a team right from puck drop,” said Chiefs bench boss Devon Olson after the loss. “Guys were trying to do it themselves and it doesn’t work that way.

“Everyone has to show up and play as a team. When we roll four lines, that’s when we win. When you have to cut down to two lines, it’s tough.”

After the Chiefs won Game 1 exactly one week before, the series was put on hold to accommodate the Bisons quest for a provincial title this past weekend. 

However, when the series resumed, the Bisons looked like the more rested team, bursting out to a 3-0 lead. Zach Wittenburg cut the deficit to 3-1 late in the second period, before the Chiefs dominated the third period.

Justin Fraser and Rylan Muenchrath scored to tie the game, but the Bisons scored a powerplay goal with 2:08 left to take the lead. 

“At the end of the game there, (with) two minutes left, they score and we take a stupid penalty,” said Olson. “We still had a chance … we still had a lot of time and we took a stupid penalty and another one right after that. 

“That was the big thing tonight, we had all the momentum and (we gave it away).”

With the series shifting to Vulcan for Games 3 & 4, the Chiefs were confident that they could get back on track and pull out at least one win.

“If we respond like we did in the first series after a loss, I think we’re okay,” said the coach. “The way we were hitting them in the third and them playing last weekend, that might help us in the long run.

“I think it’s more of an advantage for us (playing on a smaller rink in Vulcan). They have smaller forwards and they had a lot of room (in Game 2). They took it to us because we were standing still.

“Those small guys are quick, so getting into their smaller barn, maybe we can shut them down a bit. We have to play our game – come out and hit.”

If the two teams split the pair of games in Vulcan, the fifth and decisive game will be played April 2 (6:30 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre.

For up to date results on the series, visit www.scahl.com or follow the series on our twitter page (StrathmoreTimes).