Braves a work in progress

Times Editor  

 

Despite battling the Okotoks Oilers for the top spot in the league, the Wheatland Braves have a ways to go to be classified the best team in the SCAHL.

That was the message from Braves head coach Keith Klemmensen after his team earned one out of a possible four points this past weekend.

In a battle of the heavyweights on Jan. 4 at the Strathmore Family Centre, the local double-A peewee team allowed a goal late in the game, earning a 2-2 draw versus the Oilers, before losing 5-4 to the Foothill Bisons the following day in Hussar.

“At the end of the day we got beat by a couple of teams and we didn’t play as well as we could have for the duration of both games, so I think that means those teams were sure better than us this weekend, that’s for sure,” said Klemmensen. “Right now both of those teams are hungrier for the puck – we’re not bearing down and getting to loose pucks in front of the net. We’re just not working hard enough in general. We’re probably spoiled a little by our own success … this is a wake up call for the all of us.”

The Braves opened the weekend by taking on the Oilers, who entered the game with one loss on the season. Wheatland took a 1-0 and eventually a 2-1 lead before allowing the tying goal with 40 second left in the game.

“I don’t think we earned a better fate,” said Klemmensen after the game. “We had too many guys that started to slack off end of the first period. We had four or five guys that were not fully invested (in the game) – quite frankly we’re probably fortunate to get that tie. I know we we’e ahead, but we were fortunate.

“It looked like we lost confidence in ourselves as the game when on … that other team sensed that and they bounced on it.”

The Braves were looking to get back on track the following day against the Foothills Bisons. Despite taking a 3-1 lead, the Braves fell 5-4 to suffer their second loss of the season.

“It’s hard (to give up the lead), but it’s doable,” said the coach. “We weren’t going to the net hard, we were cutting through the middle. 

“Too much gliding, not enough striding – too many circles, not enough stops and starts. They’re all clichés but they’re true.”

The Braves will look to get back to their winning ways on Jan. 11 (6 p.m.) when they host Taber in Hussar, before going on the road to face Airdrie the following day.

 

Chiefs win

The Wheatland Chiefs improved to 12-10-1 on the season after a 2-0 road victory over the Sylvan Lake Lakers on Jan. 5.

Brooker Pretty Young Man and Dakota Herman each scored for the Chiefs, who extended their winning streak to four games.

The local double- A midget team will play a pair of home games at the Strathmore Family Centre this coming weekend when they host the Red Deer Pro Stitch (Jan. 12, 5 p.m.) and the Foothills Bisons (Jan. 13, 7 p.m.).

 

Warriors split

After falling 5-3 to the Bow Valley Timberwolves on the road in Cochrane Jan 5, the Wheatland Warriors laid a beating on the Innisfail Flyers the following day at the Strathmore Family Centre.

The local double-A bantam team improved to 14-6-4 on the season with an 8-4 win over the Flyers.

The Warriors will now hit the road to face the Foothills Bisons on Jan. 12 (5 p.m.), before returning home to face Airdrie the following weekend in Hussar (Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m.).