Peewee Braves come up short

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

The Wheatland Braves had no problem putting the puck in the net, but several defensive breakdowns cost them against the Red Deer Motors, as they fell 8-6 in a barnburner Nov. 20 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
The local double-A peewee team (2-12-2) opened with the ice still wet 1:02 into the first, when Jack Slemp sent home his third goal of the campaign from Nolan Mahussier and Adam Moore.
They jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the third place Motors (7-2-3) when Cyle Clayton added a tally in the first from Garrin Gosling and Grady Stovka.
Mahussier finished with a season-high four points, as he supplied a pair of goals in the second period from Tate Yule, Ryder Many Grey Horses and Slemp. He capped off the hat trick in the third on a sweet feed from Many Grey Horses.
“Nolan and Ryder have benefitted from Slemp’s efforts,” said Braves head coach Keith Klemmesen. “Slemp works hard and he is the straw that stirs the drink for that line.”
Unfortunately, the Motors piled on three straight goals, including a short-handed marker from Nolan Larson to close out the second, taking a 4-3 lead into the break.
“We just quit working. We are successful when we attack the offensive blue line with speed,” said Klemmesen. “The fifth goal against us was a direct reflection of that. Our winger carried the puck to the blue line with no speed, turned the puck over and couldn’t get back on defence.”
Yule added his second point on the night when he drove home his third on the power play from Many Grey Horses.
Mahussier and Many Grey Horses combined for seven points.
“Those two are working well together,” said Klemmesen. “They have a lot of talent and hockey ability, but it’s about more than just production. We need to be strong in our own end and strong entering the offensive zone as well.”
The Motors pulled away with four straight goals to close the third.
“We have backed off the effort we had up in Sylvan Lake a few weeks ago,” said Klemmesen. “Anybody here can tell you that you need a 60-minute effort or these games get tough.”
The Braves tied the Lethbridge Hurricanes White 3-3 Nov. 18 at the Henderson Ice Centre. Trailing 2-0 after the first frame, Gosling got the Braves going with his third snipe of the season with 2:27 remaining.
The Braves closed out the third with goals from Cole Tweit and Tyler Fairbairn. Slemp assisted on both markers.
Matthew Dovichak recorded 24 saves in net, moving to 1-6-1 on the season. The Hurricanes move to 7-5-2.

 

Chiefs await make-up game
The midget Chiefs (11-1-1) were scheduled to faceoff with the Foothills Bisons (1-13-2) Nov. 20 at the Strathmore Family Centre, but a scheduling conflict booted them off the ice. The two teams are still in talks for a makeup date.
On tap for the Chiefs are the lowly Cranbrook Dynamiters (0-15-0) at Hussar Arena, Nov. 26 (2 p.m.). The Chiefs have scolded the Dynamiters in two meetings, outscoring the Kootenay crew 23-2.
“We are going to keep going with the same process. As long as the boys show up, do their job and have a strong work ethic, we should be fine,” said Chiefs head coach Evan Barlow.
The Chiefs travel to the Max Bell Centre in Calgary Nov. 30 (6:15 p.m.) for a mid-week tilt with the NWCAA Bruins (2-0-2).

 

Warriors ready for Friday
The bantam Warriors were off over the weekend as they hosted the Wheatland fundraiser at the Civic Centre.
They return to action this weekend when they take on the Foothills Bisons Nov. 25 in the Medicine Hat Minor Hockey tournament.