Braves still looking for consistent efforts

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Two points are always important in the standings, but it’s the consistent hard-working effort that has left Wheatland Braves coach Keith Klemmensen wondering how his team has won games lately.
The local double-A peewee team was able to win 8-2 over the Lacombe Rockets on Saturday night, but were noticeably lacking focus at times during the game.
“I think our commitment to working hard and playing as a team isn’t where it needs to be and whether guys believe it or not, it looks like the scores look lopsided sometimes in our favor, but that doesn’t indicate at all that we’re playing well as a team,” said Klemmensen. “What it indicates is that we have some guys that are good players and other teams don’t have as many good players. I’m not criticizing other teams but we have to improve and work as a team.”
The team has had some learning curves in this young season but have to find a consistent 60-minute effort to complement the wins.
“Two weeks ago I saw some pretty good things. I noticed then (last week’s 3-1 win), our effort was off with some of our guys especially some of them that are (playing) closer to 80-85 per cent,” said Klemmensen. “In the third period we played a little better and we actually got better as the game went on, but we had some selfish choices as far as scoring goes and taking penalties.”
Kyle Crnkovic led the way with the hat trick, followed by Kyle Bray with two goals while Tristan Zandee, Kage Yellowfly and Matthew Quebec added one each.
In Red Deer on Sunday afternoon, the Braves suffered their second loss of the season, as they were edged 4-3 by Red Deer Parkland.
Zandee, Tegan Skehar and Mo Hakim scored in the loss.
Up next for the local peewee double-A team is a road game in Cochrane (7:30 p.m.) on Nov. 28 and in Sylvan Lake (12 p.m.) the following day.
The Brave are sitting second in the standing with a record of 11-2.

Split weekend
The Wheatland Chiefs split their weekend games by opening with a win over the Foothills Bisons 5-2 at the Hussar Arena on Friday, Nov. 21.
In the first, Matt Halkovic opened with an unassisted marker at the 10:45 of the period. Chris Rebeyka added another one at 1:09 with assists going to Jayden Smith and Kyle Rosolowski.
The teams both traded goals in the middle frame as Jason Hobson scored on the power play at 0:40 with assists going to Rosolowski and Liam Rycroft.
In the third, Jayse Wilson scored at the 15:14 mark, while Rebeyka got his second tally of the game on the power play to wrap up the scoring.
On Sunday afternoon in Medicine Hat, the local double A team saw their undefeated season snapped as they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Venom.
Jayden Smith and James Farmer notched the markers.
The team is still atop the division with an 11-1-1 record.
The Chiefs next two games are away in Calgary on Nov. 26 (6:15 p.m.) against the CNHA Canucks and on Nov. 29 in Olds (7:30 p.m.) before playing the Taber Golden Suns (7 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre on Nov. 30.

Warriors on roll
As for the Wheatland Warriors, they defeated the Olds Grizzlys 8-2 in Olds on Nov. 22. Majid Koudourra led the way with three goals, Jayden Hendricks had two while Hassan Akl, Mitchell Fawcett and Jordan Hansen had singles.
The Wheatland Warriors will play the Foothills Bisons (4:30 p.m.) on Nov. 29 in their next game on the road.
The local bantam double-A team has a record of 12-4, which is good enough for second in the South Division.