Going the distance

Mario Prusina

Times Editor

 

The Wheatland Warriors season has come down to one game.

After splitting the first four contests of the series versus the Cranbrook Ice, the SCAHL bantam championship will come down to a fifth and deciding game.

The Warriors gained home ice advantage by winning Game 1 on the road and had a chance to close out the series at the Strathmore Family Centre.

The local double-A bantam team earned a 6-4 win in Game 3 on March 27, but couldn’t close out the series, losing Game 4 in overtime 3-2 the following day.

“We were tired and couldn’t get the puck out, that is all it was,” said Warriors head coach Paden Grant of the overtime loss. “We had two chances to get the puck out and we didn’t, but that’s how it goes in overtime right, a bounce like that?

“I mean, they played a good game, they battled hard – Cranbrook is a great team, (so) it’s kind of fitting it’s going to five games, as much as we hate it to.”

The Warriors had a chance to close out the series after a solid outing in Game 3.

“We outworked them, is what it came down to,” said Grant of Game 3. “We were physical on the puck – when you’re physical on them, they tend to back down. That’s our game, if we try to go toe-to-toe against them, we’re probably not going to fare so well. We have to out work them and play a tight system.

“That’s how we’re going to be successful against them and we did that (in Game 3).”

The series shifted to Cranbrook for the decisive game on March 29 (result not available as of press time).

“We can’t dwell on it, the kids have got to stay positive and we have to get right back at it,” said Grant of the fifth game. “They got momentum now, we have to go out and take that away from them.”

For up-to-date results, visit the league website at scahl.com or visit the Strathmore Times Facebook page.