Chiefs slip into second place

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

In an early battle for south conference supremacy, the Medicine Hat Hounds squeaked out a 5-4 win over the Wheatland Athletic Association Chiefs during South Central Alberta Hockey League action Sunday night at Kinplex I.
The Chiefs, who are used to boat-racing teams off the ice, experienced their first taste of adversity.
“I thought our guys handled it well. We were down in the third period, but then we started applying pressure and making our move; but unfortunately, we got into penalty trouble and that killed our momentum,” said Chiefs assistant coach Matt Gass.
The Hounds (5-1-1) scored the winner on the power play with eight seconds remaining in regulation and sit one point ahead of the Chiefs (5-1).
“Med Hat is a big, physical team and we weren’t able to do the things that we have been doing at the beginning of the year that made us successful,” said Gass. “There was no sustained pressure and we didn’t generate much offence following a long bus ride on a Sunday night.”
The Chiefs played the CNHA Blazers (1-1) Oct. 26 at Max Bell Centre #2. The Chiefs return home Oct. 29, 4:45 p.m. when they host CRAA Gold (2-0) at the Strathmore Family Centre. On Oct. 30, the Lethbridge Hurricanes (1-5-2) return to the Strathmore Family Centre at 7 p.m. The Chiefs extinguished the Hurricanes 3-1 back on Oct. 16.

 

Warriors stay strong
Despite not chalking one up in the win column, it was a productive and encouraging weekend for the bantam Warriors (2-6-2).
The Warriors tied the Bow Valley Timberwolves 3-3 Oct. 22 at Cochrane Arena and lost 2-1 to the Foothills Bisons Oct. 23 at Blackie Arena.
“It wasn’t our best weekend, but it also wasn’t our worst weekend either,” said Warriors’ head coach Cody Brown. “We took a step forward this weekend. Our work ethic and compete level was much better and that’s a good sign for progress.”
After being held off the score sheet in the opening two frames, Kage Yellowfly cut the Bisons lead in half late in the third period from Austin Kuryk and Adam Kirkpatrick.
Corey Ross made 19 saves in net.
In bantam, there is no overtime; teams tied after regulation remain tied.
The Warriors jumped out to a 3-1 lead on goals from Trey Gillis, Cole Walker and Kobe Gosling, but let the lead slip in the third.
Nolan Bailey and Kuryk picked up assists.
The Warriors have a pair of home games on deck this weekend as they host the Medicine Hat Hounds (3-4) Oct. 29 at Hussar Arena (5:15 p.m.) and welcome the Lethbridge Hurricanes (1-5-2) Oct. 30 to the Strathmore Family Centre (4:15 p.m.). The Hounds edged the Warriors 3-1 earlier Oct. 7 in Medicine Hat.

 

Braves fight hard
While the Braves are still searching for their first win, there haven’t been any signs of quit from their players.
“We were down 2-0 twice this weekend and came back to tie it. We had a good week of practice, our guys worked hard, so that shows me that there is no quit in this group,” said Braves’ head coach Keith Klemmensen.
The Braves (0-8-1) dropped a pair of one-goal games, 5-4 to the Olds Grizzlys Oct. 21 at Trochu Arena and 6-5 to Red Deer Motors Oct. 23 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
The Braves travel to Okotoks to take on the Oilers Black (2-3-1) Oct. 30 at Murray Arena.