Braves and Warriors find offensive touch

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

For the Wheatland Warriors and the Wheatland Braves, offense was not an issue in their openers as goals came in bunches, resulting in perfect 2015/2016 season starts for both teams.
After opening with a 9-0 on the road in Medicine Hat on Sept. 25 and winning their home opener 8-3 on Sept. 26 over Bow Valley, Warriors head coach Cody Brown was pleased with the offense, but thinks there is still more chemistry to be had in the next while.
“I think we got a lot of skill for sure,” said Brown. “I’m liking the talent we got and now it’s just a matter of working towards a common goal. Working together and find each out there but that all comes with time, so definitely will be working on that.”
Despite having the offense coming early, Brown felt as though there were some nerves, especially coming from the younger guys who had not played at the bantam level before.
“You’ve got a few guys that haven’t played this level before and even guys that have, making the jump from peewee, it’s definitely a big change for them,” said Brown. “Definitely, you’ve got a few jitters off the bat, you’ve got to learn to shake them off and get to work.”
Brown will preach this to his team a lot over the season as they have to learn to avoid bad habits because it will cost them in the end.
“Obviously, this weekend, (we had) a couple of high scoring games,” said Brown. “It’s good to see guys finding the net and the finish is always good. But games like that you start coming into bad habits.”
Brandon Kasdorf and Stran Backfat Redcrow led the way in Medicine Hat with two apiece while Kevin Schrock, Max Schafer, Cole Berg, Mo Hakim and Ben Kruse supplied single goals.
In the home opener it was Carter Kam with a hat trick, Kyle Bray scored two, Kasdorf, Kruse and Schafer each had singles.
The Warriors will be in Lethbridge on Oct. 3 at 4:45 p.m. and Oct. 4 at 9 a.m. in Cranbrook.
Meanwhile, the double-A peewee Braves started off on the right foot as they edged Taber 5-2 on Sept. 25 at home.
Head coach Carl Knudsen was satisfied with what he saw from his squad out there on opening night.
“It was basically what we expect in a first game of the season,” said Knudsen. “The chemistry is still coming along, but overall everyone came out trying 100 per cent and that’s what you kind of look for in the first game of the season. Chemistry is not always going to be there, so as long as you’re working hard it helps.”
He thought the boys lost their focus a bit in the middle frame but said it was expected with this age group and more understandable this early in the year.
“We’re still getting back into the swing of things, getting back into game shape I guess,” said Knudsen.
Tristan Zandee notched four goals while Avery Hansen rounded out the offence with one goal.
The Braves will play a double header in Cranbrook starting on Oct. 2 at 7:45 p.m. and Oct. 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Wheatland Chiefs will open their season with a pair of games in Cranbrook Oct. 3-4.
The local double-A midget team will play their home opener against the CNHA Blazers on Oct. 10 (4:45 p.m.) before they host the Okotoks Oilers Black the following day at 1:30 p.m. at the Strathmore Family Centre.