Warriors lose 1st game

Times Reporter 

 

The bantam AA Wheatland Warriors were 13-0 on Nov. 8, after beating the Cranbrook Hornets at home 7-3. Two days later, however, they suffered their first loss of the season, 4-3 against the Foothills Bisons at the Strathmore Family Centre.

“The kids weren’t very happy about it,” said bantam coach Mark Laycock. “It stings a little bit, right? The kids were all pretty excited because we were still undefeated but the first loss always hurts.”

Against Cranbrook, Kyle Merkosky had a five point night, including a hat trick – he now has 28 points in 14 games, placing him third in league scoring. Lucas Muenchrath added three points in the victory; the Warriors had 46 shots on net, and only 23 against them.

The Warriors were down 4-2 in the third period against the Bisons, and managed to make it 4-3 with five minutes remaining – but could not pull off the tie, or victory.

“We’ve told them, we’ve got to move past that. We don’t have to worry about an undefeated season now, and keep going in the direction we’ve been going so far this year,” Laycock said.

The Warriors are 13-1, and have the most goals for in the league with 88; Cranbrook is second with 75.

The peewee Wheatland Braves tied the Okotoks Oilers at home on Nov. 10, 4-4. A back and forth game, the Braves were leading 4-2 at one point in the third; the Oilers tied it up with 26 seconds to go. The Braves sit 5-7-2, with Tarun Fizer leading the way with 23 points in 14 games – including two goals in the tie.

The Red Deer Elks suffered a 7-1 beating by the hands of the midget Wheatland Chiefs on Nov. 9, who were two for five on the powerplay. Cody Willis contributed one goal and three assists; Colton Herman had two goals and one assist. Both boys have 15 points in eight games. The Chiefs are 6-1-1 in the North Division.