Chiefs struggle to find the back of the net

By Brady Grove, Times Reporter

The Wheatland Chiefs came up just short in two close games over the weekend.
The local double-A midget team lost 2-0 against the CBHA Rangers on Jan. 26 in Strathmore, and couldn’t complete the comeback against the Okotoks Oilers, losing 5-4 on Jan. 27 in Okotoks.
“It’s been a really tight league this year. It’s anybody’s game right now,” said Chiefs head coach Matt Gregory. “It’s going to sound cliché, but if we play a full 60 minutes of hockey we are probably going to win.”
It was a good defensive game against the Rangers but the Chiefs struggled to score despite the relatively even shots at 28-24 in favour of the Rangers.
“We get lots of shots but we need to find a way to manufacture some goals,” said Gregory.
The power play didn’t help the Chiefs as they went 0 for 5 in the game and gave up both goals against while killing a penalty. Chiefs goalie Landen Brassard made 22 saves in the loss.
“I think we probably deserved a bit better of a fate against the Rangers,” said Gregory. “I thought our effort was pretty solid all the way through.”
The Oilers led the Chiefs 2-1 after the first period the next night and sniped in three more in the second period. According to Gregory, the Chiefs took the second period off and the Oilers capitalized, taking a four-goal lead. The Chiefs got their game together in the third and scored three goals to draw within one but ran out of time. Drew Dovichak got the start for the Chiefs and made 22 saves in the defeat.
The Chiefs are riding a three-game losing streak and hold a record of 10-13-2 and sit in fifth place in the heavy south conference. The Chiefs will hit the road to face the Bow Valley Timberwolves on Feb. 1 and then return for a home game at Hussar on Feb. 2 against the Lethbridge Hurricane Hounds.

Warriors winning streak ends at 17
The Wheatland Warriors stunning, nearly season-long winning streak was ended by divisional opponent the Medicine Hat Hounds 3-1 in Medicine Hat on Jan. 26.
The local double-A bantam team bounced back the next night and beat the Bow Valley Timberwolves 3-2 at the Strathmore Family Centre to make 18 wins in 19 games.
The Warriors will get a chance to start a new winning streak on Feb. 1 against the Red Deer Ramada in Hussar. The Warriors will make the drive north to face off against the Red Deer Steel Kings on Feb. 2 and then return to Hussar to play the Taber Golden Suns on Feb. 3.

Braves score 21 goals but only get two points
The Wheatland Braves sank the Chestermere Lakers 14-1 on Jan. 25 at the Strathmore Family Centre. The local double-A peewee team’s offense was on full attack with five players scoring at least four points and another six getting at least one point.
The offense continued but they couldn’t outscore the Foothills Bisons, who beat the Braves 8-7 in Blackie on Jan. 27.
The Braves had moved into a tie for fourth place with the Okotoks Oilers Green with both teams having 30 points, but the Braves have two games in hand.
The Braves will only hit the ice once next weekend, against Red Deer Parkland on Feb. 2 in Red Deer.