Wheatland eyes offensive touch

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Wheatland Chiefs double-A midget team took their foot off the gas pedal on Oct. 17 against Red Deer, costing them the win, as the visitors walked away with a 3-2 victory.
While head coach Shadoe Stoodley thought the first two periods were strong, the team was unable to capitalize on further chances, which lead to crucial defensive breakdowns in the final frame.
“I thought we slid off in the third period from our goal,” said Stoodley. “We had a bad turnover in the neutral zone that caused a breakaway. The bad bounces don’t go your way but you can’t dwell and blame a loss on that. You got to earn the puck and make the bounces go your way, they’re just not going to come to you.”
Stoodley felt some of his players are still trying to find their offensive tough around the net but said it’s still early and they will start putting it together.
Ryan Skytt and Chayse Hnatowich scored in the loss.
However, Stoodley talked about the team giving each other support and he saw that next day in a 7-1 win over Lethbridge at home.
Riley Romashenko and Lucas Muenchrath scored two apiece, while Hnatowich, Wacy Sandum and Christopher Rebeyka scored one each in the win.
The Chiefs will be back on home ice this weekend on Oct. 24 when they host the NWCAA Bruins at 4:45 p.m.
The Wheatland Warriors double-A bantam team had their work cut out for them on Sunday afternoon in Hussar as head coach Cody Brown felt as though they stooped down to Taber’s level a little bit and slowed the play down.
“With our team against a team like that we got to use our speed to our advantage,” said Brown. “And I think we slowed the play down to their level a bit, but that all comes with time and we still have a lot of work to do still. We definitely took a lot things for granted out there.”
According to Brown, the players were driving the net harder, which was something they did not do a few weeks ago.
In the 1-1 tie against Taber, Stran Backfat Redcrow scored the lone tally for the Warriors.
The Warriors will host Red Deer Ramada on Oct. 25 at the Strathmore Family Centre at 4:15 p.m.
Meanwhile the Wheatland Braves put on an offensive clinic last Friday night as they dismantled Lethbridge 11-2 and the Okotoks Oilers Green 6-2 on Saturday night.
Trevor Gillies scored four goals, while Adam Kirkpatrick, Tristan Zandee, Joel Romano notched two apiece and Philip Raycroft added one goal against Lethbridge.
In Okotoks, Zandee lead the way with two snipes, while Romano, Zach Nichols, Avery Hansen and Nolan Mahussier supplied singles in the win.
The Braves will play host to the Foothills Bisons on Oct. 23 at the Strathmore Family Centre at 7:30 p.m. and will be in Hussar the next night to take on Lethbridge Hurricanes White at 5 p.m.