Chiefs capture pair of wins

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

The Wheatland Chiefs blasted away the competition during their opening weekend of South Central Alberta Hockey League play.
The local double-A midget team took no prisoners as they treated the Cranbrook Dynamiters like a tomato can, peppering them with 68 shots during their 8-0 shutout.
“Our returning guys are playing well and the new guys have bought into our system,” said Chiefs’ assistant coach Matt Gass.
Riley Romashenko led the charge with two goals and an assist.
“He’s really talented. He has good hands, great vision and gets to the good spots on the ice. If he keeps moving his legs, he’s going to be hard for anyone in this league to stop,” said Gass.
The Chiefs only led 3-0 heading into the third when the floodgates opened.
“Sometimes this game can be tough; playing against a team that might be a little below you and after a long bus ride. But our guys brought the energy and it was a big win,” said Gass.
Single snipes came from Ryan Longmuir, Wacy Sandum, Zachary Suntjens, Isaac Benoit, Robert Butterwick and Adrian Kusu. Chayse Hnatowich and Kelton Travis picked up three assists each.
“Hnatowich and Butterwick played on the same line as Romashenko last season so I think those guys are clicking pretty well already,” added Gass.
The Chiefs (2-0) welcomed the new season with a 3-0 blanking of the Olds Grizzlys (0-2) Friday (Sept. 1) at the Strathmore Family Centre.
“It feels great. That’s a great way to start off your season, having everyone rolling and doing their job,” said Chiefs captain Bell. “Can’t ask for much more than that.”
Scott Desserre, Kusu and Benoit were the snipers with assists coming from Ryan McHarg, Tyler Skehar (2), Butterwick, Romashenko and Travis.
At the other end of the ice, Ty Tarvyd has turned away all 40 shots this season.
“It feels pretty darn good. I’m pretty excited, we got a great team in front of me, I just have to try and do my part,” said Tarvyd after posting back-to-back shutouts to start the season.
Continuity doesn’t seem to be an obstacle for the Chiefs; many of these players have played together in the past at some point.
Bell, who has played for Wheatland since peewee, said the bonds and chemistry are already there after playing with one another in years past.
There’s just one game on tap for the Chiefs this weekend. They host the Taber Golden Suns (0-1-1) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 8) at the Strathmore Family Centre.

 

Warriors edged out
Meanwhile, a 5-5 tie with the Taber Golden Suns (Friday, Sept. 30) and a 3-2 edging by the Red Deer Ramada (Sunday, Oct.2) had the bantam Warriors coaching staff feeling like an opportunity for points slipped away over the weekend.
“We shot ourselves in the foot from the beginning. We weren’t working hard from the get go and they took advantage,” said Warriors head coach Cody Brown following Sunday’s game.
Ramada jumped in front when a shot from the point – more like a changeup – by Carter Claerhout coasted along the ice like a nice hard pass and fooled Warriors goaltender Corey Ross.
The Warriors (0-3-1) tied it in the second when Nolan Bailey took a pass from the point from Kobe Gosling, corralled the puck, launching a backhand on net. Bailey gathered the rebound and pumped it in on his second attempt.
The Warriors took the lead in the third, when on a two-on-one rush Zach Nicholls shot the puck hard and low, creating a bouncing rebound for Bryce Benfield. The puck bounced up and hit Benfield in the chest before coming back down, where he stuffed in the garbage.
“If we come out firing, playing all 60 minutes of hockey, there’s no doubt that we win that game,” said Brown.
Ramada (1-3) became too much too handle offensively down the stretch, as they netted goals from Jack Walton and Nick Grimes.
Desperation kicked in during the final three minutes. The Warriors held the puck in the Ramada zone for nearly the remaining time, but couldn’t push one across.
“It’s still early and we got lots of time left. We got to get all 19 guys rolling and working hard every night, then we can get somewhere,” said Brown.
The Warriors look to turn things around on the road when they travel to Medicine Hat to take on the Hounds (2-1) Friday (Oct. 7) at Moose Recreation Arena. They’re in action the following night in Airdrie battling the Lightning (2-0) at Rob Ebbesen Twin Arena.
The Warriors next home game goes Saturday, Oct. 15 against the Okotoks Oilers (2-1) at Hussar Arena.

 

Braves lose two
The Wheatland Braves were slowed down by inconsistent effort over the weekend as they dropped a pair of games.
The Bow Valley Timberwolves (3-1) slighted the local double-A peewee team 7-4 Sunday, Oct. 2, at Cochrane Arena and the Okotoks Oilers Green (2-1) clipped the Braves 5-3 Saturday, Oct. 1, at Murray Arena.
“We can’t play scared. We have to break a sweat, nothing is going to be given to us at this level,” said Braves head coach Keith Klemmensen. “Our effort against Bow Valley was much better.”
Josh Alberda, Tate Yule, Philip Raycroft and Cole Tweit tickled the twine against the T-Wolves, with assists coming from Garrin Gosling (2), Jack Slemp, Nolan Bell, Tyler Fairbairn, Adam Moore (2) and Yule.
“We were down 5-2 and came back to make it a respectable game. It was truly more of a 5-4 type loss than anything,” said Klemmensen. “It’s not laziness or these kids being allergic to work; for most of these kids it has been an eye opener at this level. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. These kids will be fine.”
Fairbairn, Slemp and Bell picked up goals against the Oilers with assists from Ryder Many Grey, Carter Gosling and Fairbairn.
The Braves welcome the West Central Tigers (1-1) to the Strathmore Family Centre 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8.