Peewee Braves humbled by Lightning on home ice

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

It was their first measuring-stick game of the season and it yielded impressive results despite being on the wrong side of the score sheet.
The Wheatland Braves were fresh off a pair of victories and taking on the South Division leaders, the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
The local double-A peewee team trailed 3-2 entering the final frame, but became unwound in the third, eventually falling 6-3 at the Strathmore Family Centre on Oct. 14.
“I actually thought our performance last weekend wasn’t that impressive. We only showed up for four out of the six periods and we were fortunate to get two wins,” said Keith Klemmensen, Braves head coach. “I thought we created good opportunities tonight, but weren’t able to score against the best team that we’ve seen all year.”
The Braves trailed 1-0 in the first, when a scramble in front of the Hurricanes net appeared to go in, but was waved off immediately.
Forty-four seconds later, the Braves were still buzzing in the offensive zone when Jace Koole was camped out front and received a slick backhand pass from Garrin Gosling. Koole wasted no time, punching the puck in for his first of the season.
The Hurricanes (6-0-1) regained the lead after Trad Owens toe-dragged around a pair of Brave defenders, but was initially turned away by Matthew Dovichak. Staying with the play, a rebound opportunity came out to Owens, who netted his third of the season.
On the power play in the second period, a point shot from Charles Goll was redirected on its path to the net a few times. Pinballing around in pairs of skates at the mouth of the goal, Tyler Fairbairn was able to get a handle on it, cutting the Hurricane lead to 3-2.
“Where we got in trouble today was in the fundamental things: we didn’t get pucks past the first guy, we didn’t get pucks in deep at critical times and we lost track of players when they got behind our defence,” said Klemmensen.
Terik Parascak netted the winner in the third after Fairbairn hauled him down on a breakaway. He was rewarded with a penalty shot and made no mistake, beating Dovichak glove side.
Another point shot fluttered through Dovichak’s body midway through the third, as the Hurricanes appeared to enter cruise control.
With under two minutes remaining, Goll finished off a very difficult two-on-two rush with Fairbairn, as he was able to get to the outside of the defender and poke his stick out enough to deflect his captain’s pass into the top shelf.
Lethbridge capped off the evening by adding an empty-netter before the final horn.
“In my opinion, we are better leaving the rink today than when we got here,” said Klemmensen. “That’s all I’m looking for.”
This was the Braves (3-3-0) only South Central Hockey League action of the weekend, as they hosted a peewee team from Calgary on Oct. 14.
Up next for the Braves is the Red Deer Motors (1-3-0), who will pay a visit to the Family Centre Oct. 21 (4:45 p.m.). The Braves will enjoy two homes games that weekend, as they wrap up the slate by hosting the Foothills Bisons (2-3-0) Oct. 22. Puck drop is slated for 1:30 p.m.

Chiefs split a pair
In a season-long battle for top spot in the South Conference, the Lethbridge Hurricanes delivered the opening blow.
The Wheatland Chiefs were at Henderson Ice Centre in Lethbridge Oct. 13 to take on the Hurricanes.
Sean Park of the Hurricanes was nearly bulletproof, as he carried a shutout deep into the third period.
The Canes (6-0-0) led the defending provincial champs 3-0 on a pair of goals from Spencer Kennedy and a first period power play marker from Connor Zdan.It was the Chiefs Brian Butland who ended Park’s shutout bid on a solo effort in the third.
Later in the frame, R.J. Condie delivered a vicious elbow to the Chiefs, picking up a game misconduct and a suspension. It will be his second trip to the suspended list this season and the 10th Hurricane to miss time.
The local double-A midget team (4-2-0) bounced back Oct. 15 with a decisive 5-2 victory against the Okotoks Oilers (0-6-0) at Murray Arena.
Ben Kruse ripped mesh on the power play and Jared Kirkpatrick picked up a snipe from Austin Kuryk in the first period. Kruse netted the winner on a solo effort in the second, with the insurance marker coming from Bailey Filkohazy. For good measure, Jayden Hendricks popped in a short-handed goal from Mitch Desserre and Kruse for his third point. Ethan Rycroft stopped 25 of 27 shots for his third win.
One game on tap for the Chiefs this weekend as they host the Medicine Hat Hounds (2-2-0) Oct. 20. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 p.m.

Warriors win first away game
The Wheatland Warriors picked up their first road win of the season Oct. 14 when they buzzed the Olds Grizzlys 3-2 at the Olds and District Sports Complex.
Brandon McGillvary’s third of the season from stood as the winner from Brayden Ledrew at the 1:02 mark of the third.
Domenic Ficaccio and Jerrin Hendricks got in on the scoring, with assists going to Spencer Tower, Tate Yule, Lachlan Stewart and Ledrew.
The Grizzlys (3-2-1) scored in the back end of the third, but Dylan Fries-Abel hung on, making 22 saves for his second win on the season.
Returning home Oct. 15, the Warriors (3-5-1) suffered a 3-2 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes (3-2-2) at the Family Centre.
The local double-A bantam team jumped out to a 2-0 score in the first on goals from Joel Romano and Yule, with assists coming from Philip Raycroft, Stewart and Romano.
They couldn’t hang onto the lead, surrendering one goal in the second and two in the third, with the winner coming from Ryland Semaniuk with seven minutes remaining.
The Warriors are at home for one game this weekend, as they host the Taber Golden Suns (0-4-1) Oct. 22 (4:45 p.m.) at the Family Centre.