Warriors struggle against Foothills

Times Reporter   

 

The Wheatland bantam Warriors defeated the Medicine Hat Venom on Feb. 7, by a score of 7-3 – it was 5-1 at the end of the first, but Wheatland coach Mark Laycock wanted that energy the whole way through the game.

“We got off to a good start,” he said. “After, we started to relax. I wasn’t too happy with the effort in the last two periods, but I guess when you get up 5-0 that’s a natural thing to do. They have to learn to just keep pushing through, and to not be happy with a 5-0 lead.”

Rylan Longmuir and Robert Butterwick had two goals each, while Joel Krahenbil had a helper and a goal.

A couple days later, however, that lack of effort continued, as the Warriors lost to the Foothills Bisons 5-2 on Feb. 9. The Bisons had defeated the Warriors on Nov. 10 as well, giving Wheatland their first loss of the season after opening the year to a 13-0 record.

“Foothills is a good team. They skate hard, and they forecheck you hard – we just weren’t ready for that. I don’t think we were moving our feet good enough,” Laycock said. “They’re a physical team, and they’re relentless on the puck.”

Krahenbil scored again, and Cole Clayton added the other for Wheatland. Foothills capitalized once on a penalty shot, and also once on the powerplay.

“Some of the guys have to start working harder,” Laycock said. “I think lately they’ve been happy sitting on top of the league and guys aren’t putting in the effort right now. We just need more.”

The Warriors are top of the North Division with a 25-4-2 record, with Longmuir leading the team with 48 points. Their next game is against the Airdrie Lightning on Feb. 14.

Chiefs blown away by Hurricanes, 

Bruins

After a 3-2 loss against the NWCAA Bruins on Feb. 5, with the team’s lone goals coming from Jayden Smith and Mckay Bray, the Wheatland Chiefs’ offensive efforts didn’t improve against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Feb. 8 – even with 41 shots on net. Lethbridge took the game 6-3, with the help of three powerplay goals on the night. The matchup was very back and forth, as it was tied 1-1 at the end of the first and 3-3 at the end of the second. Taylor Donner, Quinton Peplinski and Cole Busslinger found the back of the net for the Chiefs, while Jayden Smith added two helpers. The Chiefs sit second in the North Division (17-13-2) and have their last game of the season on Feb. 15 against the Foothills Bisons.

Braves have two to go

The peewee Wheatland Braves had the week off, but have their last two games of the season against Lacombe on Feb. 15, and Red Deer on Feb. 16.