Braves look for full game efforts

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Wheatland Braves found themselves down 6-3 halfway through the third on Friday night in Hussar against the Cranbrook Eagles.
However, the local double-A peewee team showed resiliency and believed in themselves enough to come back in the last 10 minutes to salvage a 6-6 tie.
“The first period we came out pretty good, second period was a little bit of a let down,” said head coach Carl Knudsen. “We waited until the last 10 minutes or so before we wanted to try and kick it into high gear and come back.
“We tried to keep putting pucks to the net and eventually we were bound for something to drop. We stuck with that and I urged them to keep trying, keep giving it 110 per cent. I wanted to make sure they knew it wasn’t over yet. We still had time to get some goals.”
Knudsen said Cranbrook was able to capitalize on their chances and he knew it was crucial that the Braves start capitalizing on theirs.
Zach Nicholls and Adam Kirkpatrick scored two apiece, while Tristan Zandee and Joel Romano scored one each in the tie.
On Sunday afternoon in Lethbridge, Knudsen thought the opening two periods were well played by the team, and while the first five minutes of third period they showed momentum, they were unable to sustain in a 5-2 defeat.
“We just kind of collapsed and they took over in the last 15 and ran away with it,” said Knudsen. “They got a couple of good, hardworking goals and basically outworked us. They just wanted it a little more.”
Zandee scored both goals in the loss.
The Braves will hit the road for Medicine Hat on Dec. 19 to face the Hounds at 7:30 p.m. before hosting Okotoks Oilers Black at the Strathmore Family Centre on Dec. 20 at 4:15 p.m.
They currently sit in third place with 23 points.

Warriors grab point
The Wheatland Warriors played hard in a tough match against Taber and salvaged a 3-3 tie with a goal late on Dec. 13.
“I think we definitely showed up tonight,” said head coach Cody Brown. “Maybe had a slow start and flat in the first period but we came out firing in the second playing the hockey we’ve been trying to play since the beginning of the year and I think the boys were working hard.”
The local bantam double-A team saw themselves down 2-0 and worked hard to get a point in the draw.
“It’s huge,” said Brown. “You get against a good competition nothing comes as easy as they might against a weaker opponent. It’s good to see, everybody gets a reality check. Everything is not going to come that easy and you got to wake up and get to work.”
Carter Kam led the charge with two goals, while Mo Hakim tied it late.
The Warriors are currently in a three-way tie with Okotoks and Taber with 28 points.
The team will play the Central AB Selects on the road on Dec. 18 at 6 p.m.

Chiefs take out Taber
The Wheatland Chiefs tied 3-3 in Taber on Dec. 11 before beating the same team 4-2 in Hussar the following night.
Ryan Skytt, Jared Kirkpatrick and Ryan Bell scored in the tie.
Ryan Romashenko notched two goals, while Mitchell Fawcett and Wacy Sandum rounded out the scoring in the win.
The Chiefs currently sit in first place with 23 points and are four points clear of second place Okotoks.
The local midget double-A team will face the Foothills Bisons in Hussar on Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m.