Bantam, midget WAA programs win after long layoff
By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter
Tyler Lowey Photo
An odd scheduling conflict in the South Central Alberta Hockey League and the Strathmore Family Centre being occupied by the Strathmore Minor Hockey Association atom tournament last weekend gave the Warriors some much needed time off to rest a couple of bumps and bruises.
With fresh legs underneath them, the local double-A bantam team came out and handled their business, beating the last place Taber Golden Suns 5-1 Nov. 19 at the Family Centre.
“The time off was beneficial to a lot of the guys on our team and I was happy with our effort out there coming off a long break,” said Warriors Head Coach Cody Brown.
Jarred Schrock got things going in the first by whacking away at a loose puck on a power play 3:36 into the first period.
The Golden Suns (2-12-1) answered 1:18 later, but it was the Warriors who retook the lead at the 8:41 mark for good, when Schrock was back at it, slamming home a touch pass from Brandon McGillvary from the side of the net.
Spencer Tower stepped on the ice for a new shift in the second periodand scored on a breakaway for his third of the season.
The Warriors (6-8-1) closed out the third with goals from Domenic Ficaccio and Ray Warrack. Corey Ross stopped 20 shots in his return to the pipes.
The road will get slightly tougher for the Warriors this weekend, as they host the first place Okotoks Oilers (8-4-3) Nov. 24 (7:30 p.m.), and the Central Alberta Selects (5-8-1) Nov. 26 (1:30 p.m.) at the Family Centre.
Chiefs handle Hurricanes
There is no longer an undefeated team in the South division, after the Wheatland Chiefs knocked off the Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-3 Nov. 17 at the Family Centre.
The Chiefs were also playing their first game in two weeks. Their last game came against the very same Hurricanes, as the two teams skated to a tightly contested 1-1 draw at the Family Centre.
The Hurricanes (12-1-2) led 2-0 until the defending provincial champs went to work.
Jayden Hendricks sniped a pair in the second period, followed by Brady Skiffington’s third goal of the season.
Adrian Kusu registered his third of the year on the power play from Ben Kruse, as Jaycob Masciangelo added an empty-netter to polish off the division leaders. Ethan Rycroft recorded 35 saves for his fifth win.
The local double-A midget team (7-3-2) played their second mid-week game of the season this past week against the CNHA Canucks (7-0-0) of the Calgary division at the Max Bell Centre #2. They will take on the Foothills Bisons Nov. 24 in their first game at Hussar Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. They will close out the weekend at the Family Centre, when they host the CNHA Blazers (2-1-2) Nov. 25 (4:45 p.m.).
Braves split weekend set
The Wheatland Braves responded with a win following their worst loss of the season, splitting a weekend set.
The local double-A peewee team was pelted 9-5 by the Lethbridge Hurricanes Nov. 17 at Hussar Arena.
The Braves led 3-1 early into the second on a pair of goals from Wyatt Yule and a snipe from Nash Wassing. From there, the Hurricanes (11-3-2) closed out the remaining 35 minutes on an 8-2 run.
Charles Goll and Jace Koole added power play markers at the end of regulation.
Nine goals were the most allowed in any game this season by the Braves (10-6-0), as their losing streak hit three games following their six-game heater.
The Braves put an end to the slide with a sound 4-1 decision Nov. 19 at the Genesis Place Rink against the Airdrie Lightning Red.
Connor Radke supplied a pair, with single goals coming from Colton Gabe and Kolten Kuryk in the third.
The Braves are off until December, when they host the Cranbrook BP Wings (4-7-1) in a pair of home games, the first coming Dec. 1 (7:30 p.m.) at Hussar Arena and Dec. 2 (4:45 p.m.) at the Family Centre.