Warriors drop two in row

Times Reporter   

 

For the first time this season, the Wheatland Warriors lost two games in a row – Jan. 26, by a score of 3-1 to the Red Deer Ramada, and 6-5 on Jan. 31 to the Bow Valley Timberwolves.

“Against Red Deer, that was a letdown on our part. We didn’t play very well,” Warriors coach Mark Laycock said. “The second game, I thought our effort was there, but it was just one of those nights. We gave up six goals, and we had chances that we didn’t capitalize on.”

Ryan Ries did capitalize with less than a minute left for the bantam Warriors, bringing the team within one goal – but they couldn’t manage to tie it. Other goals were scored by Rylan Longmuir, Joel Krahenbil, and Chayse Hnatowich (who added two, and two assists).

In the Warriors next game Feb. 2, they defeated the Medicine Hat Venom narrowly by a score of 5-4, a team they had beaten 11-0 in provincial play the week before. The game, Laycock says, was his team’s best of the year.

“We just went in there and said the same thing – take away time and space from them, and get pucks to the net. We knew it was going to be a closer game than the other day because Medicine Hat was ready for us,” Laycock said. “They were a little frustrated after the (Bow Valley) game. They’re not used to losing two in a row.”

Krahenbil was the two-goal hero this time, including the game-winner halfway through the third. Braydon Neiszner, Rylan Longmuir, and Kyle Merkosky also scored as well. Zach Suntjens and Ryan McHarg added two assists each for the win.

With playoffs fast approaching, the bantams are still tops in the North with a 24-3-2 record. They play the Venom once more in their next game, Feb. 7 in Hussar.

“We knew that the league was going to tighten up a little bit, and everything was going to get a bit more competitive. I’m not really worried, I think we have a bunch that are good character kids,” Laycock said. They know that it’s going to be tougher than it was at the start of the year – they’re ready to work and learn here at the end of the year. I have trust that they’ll show up in every game from here on out.”

 

Braves lose one, win two

The Wheatland Braves played three games in a row from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, winning two of the three matchups. In their first, against Lethbridge Hurricanes White, half their goals came on the powerplay, thanks to Hassan Akl and Tarun Fizer. Kyle Bray and Ryan Orford gave the Braves the go-ahead in the second period, but the Hurricanes scored three more for the 6-4 win. 

The next night against Medicine Hat Venom White, Akl and Fizer continued their goal streak, while Ben Slemp scored the other. The Braves defeated Medicine Hat 3-1, with goalie Ethan Rycroft only facing nine shots, while his teammates put 44 onto Medicine Hat’s net.

The peewee Braves traveled to Red Deer on Feb. 2, and came out with a 5-3 victory. With the score 2-0 for Red Deer early in the second, Fizer put two in the back of the net on the powerplay, while Crnkovic added another to give the Braves a 3-2 lead at the end of the period. Red Deer tied it up early in the third, but Cole Berg and Kyle Bray of Wheatland scored for the win and the security. Ryan Conroy helped with three assists, and Braves goalie Kenny Holt-Stewart stopped 13 of 16 shots. The Braves again had a strong offensive effort, with 45 shots.

The Wheatland peewees are fourth in the North Division with 31 points, and have their next game against Lacombe at home on Feb. 15.

 

Chiefs climbing

The Wheatland Chiefs shut out the Cranbrook Knights on Jan. 31, with Mike Conrad making 27 saves. The Chiefs fired 54 on the opposition, leading to goals by Mckay Bray, Cody Willis, and Taylor Donner. Coltyn Herman also scored once, and helped on two. 

The following night however, the midget Chiefs dropped 5-2 to the Airdrie Lightning. Willis and Blair Roszell found the back of the net for the Chiefs, but it wasn’t enough, even putting 44 shots on net.

The Chiefs have subtly climbed up to second in the North Division, two points behind the Red Deer Indy Graphics.