Braves must improve ethic
Aryssah Stankevitsch
Times Reporter
Following a rough loss on Oct. 12 to the Badlands Longhorns 4-3, the peewee Wheatland Braves stormed back the next day at home 11-3. In the first matchup, the Longhorns went up 3-0, and the Braves’ Tarun Fizer scored a hat-trick within an eight minute span to tie it up; the Longhorns then scored with just under three minutes remaining to take the win.
“I think they had a rather stern pre-game message on Sunday,” Keith Klemmensen said, coach of the Braves. “I think the coaching staff probably wasn’t pleased with the lack of effort that was displayed on Saturday. We got the result on Saturday that we earned, quite frankly.”
The 11-3 victory was Wheatland’s home opener, where they celebrated last season’s league championship. Klemmensen believes the ceremony may have spurred on a few of the returning players, but everyone needs to work harder.
“We have to grow up, quick,” Klemmensen said. “It’s not anything that’s going to get better for us if we don’t give the attention and care that are asked at practices and during games. If that’s not paid attention to 100% of the time, it’s very likely this team will not do as well.”
Fizer continued his streak in the second game, with a goal and an assist, while Majid Kaddoura and Connor Bertamini each had hat-tricks. Other multi-point scorers were Ryan Orford, Kyle Crnkovic and Cole Berg.
“This is new to a lot of the guys. It’s certainly a lot more work than they thought it was going to be,” Klemmensen said.
The Braves’ next game is against Red Deer Parkland at home on Oct. 19. Their record sits at 2-4-1.
The bantam Wheatland Warriors won 3-2 against the Airdrie Lightning thanks to Robert Butterwick’s game winning goal with 1:39 remaining in the game. Other goal scorers were Kyle Merkosky and Braydon Neiszner – the latter on the powerplay.
The Warriors are off to a fantastic start, improving to 6-0 on the season; they have the lowest goals against in the league with 11, and the most goals for with 43. They also play a very disciplined game, leading teams with the lowest penalty minutes (66).
The bantams will have played The Edge School on Oct. 16 prior to the time of print, and will have their home opening weekend against the Taber Golden Suns and the Airdrie Lightning on Oct. 19 and 20.
Another undefeated squad so far this season are the 3-0 Wheatland Chiefs; the midget squad defeated the Airdrie Lightning in their home opener 9-2 on Oct. 13. Blair Roszell had two goals and one assist (along with eight penalty minutes); Cody Willis and Quinton Peplinski each had one goal and two assists.
The team has the least goals against in the North Division with 8, thanks to the play of goalie Ben Bogstie, who saved 32 of 34 shots on Oct. 13. They will have played the CBHA Blackhawks on Oct. 16 prior to the time of print, and again at home on Oct. 20, against the Lacombe Rockets.