Warriors begin to turn a page

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

The Wheatland Warriors were 46 seconds away from an undefeated weekend against two of the top teams from the South Central Alberta Hockey League. It was their first league action in three weeks.
The local double-A bantam team was tied 3-3 late in the third against the South Conference leading Taber Golden Suns (12-4-1), when Mitch Tessemaker sat for holding.
Kolby James potted his team-leading 20th goal from Nolan Price and Jayden Kostiuk, icing the Warriors.
“Last night was a good game, we tried to take it from Taber, but a few lackadaisical plays cost us. It was one of our best efforts of the year,” said Warriors head coach Cody Brown.
Austin Kuryk sniped a pair; Max Schafer added his third goal, with assists coming from Adam Kirkpatrick, Kage Yellowfly and Tessemaker. Corey Ross stood on his head, making 30 saves at the Taber Community Centre.
The Warriors (6-10-2) rebounded nicely, as they faced the second-place Central Alberta Selects (11-6-1) Dec. 4 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
Knotted at zero following the opening frame, the Warriors found the back of the net in the second and the third, skating to the 2-0 victory.
“Our team is definitely coming along,” said Brown. “It is a little bit bad timing, right before the Christmas break, but we wanted to get as good as we could before the holidays so the transition coming back is easier.”
The Selects came out and controlled the majority of the play in the opening frame. The Warriors had a few chances; Trey Gillis and Kuryk were off on a 2-on-1 with seven seconds left, but couldn’t push one across.
Gillis brought the fight to the Selects. He delivered several punishing hits and on one shift in the second period, he laid a defender out, blocked a shot and had a breakaway attempt.
“Trey is a big energy guy,” said Brown. “He likes to get the group fired up and sparks us with high energy.”
With 56 ticks remaining in the second, Kirkpatrick took the puck from the corner and drove to the net. There, the Warriors leading scorer Kage Yellowfly jammed away and shoveled in the winner.
“Kage has been good for us. He has taken big strides from last season to now,” said Brown. “He wants to get better every time he steps on the ice.”
Matthew Quebec supplied the insurance on the power play in the third when Kirkpatrick sent a sweet feed to Quebec from the corner, and he one-timed it home.
Logan Grant made 28 saves to collect the Warriors first shutout of the season.
“If we aren’t working, we are a very mediocre team,” said Brown. “But, if we show up and compete, we can test anyone in this league.”
Next up for the Warriors is a pair of road games. First, they travel to the Collicutt Centre Arena Dec. 10 to tango with the Red Deer Ramada (6-9-3), followed by a rematch with the Selects Dec. 11 at the Gary Moe Sportsplex.
Their next home game is slated for Dec. 18 when they host the Foothills Bisons (2-16-0).

 

Chiefs on fire
In the midget circuit, the Chiefs are driving a steamroller downhill, leveling anything in their path.
A pair of victories over the weekend extends their season-high win streak to 10 games.
“Everyone is chipping in right now. It’s great to see,” said Chiefs assistant coach Matt Gass. “We’re getting great play from everyone; from our goaltenders, to our defensemen up to our forwards. Whether they are first year players or second year, we don’t have fear of sending anyone out there in any situation.”
The Chiefs have clogged up league leaderboards. They own half of the Top 10 in league scoring – including the No. 1 and 2 spots – and the top goaltender.
Their 112 goals-for more than doubles the next closest team and for teams playing at least 15 games, they have allowed the leagues fewest goals against (27).
The Chiefs stuffed the 4-1-2 NWCAA Bruins 5-3 Nov. 30 at the Max Bell Centre. Isaac Benoit and Chayse Hnatowich each bagged a pair while Wacy Sandum supplied one goal. Picking up helpers were Ryan McHarg (2), Lucas Muenchrath (2), Robert Butterwick (2), Riley Romashenko and Ryan Bell.
Playing a makeup game, the Chiefs annihilated the 1-17-2 Foothills Bisons 15-0 Dec. 3 at Hussar Arena.
Hnatowich led the way with 1+5, Romashenko added 4+1, Benoit supplied a pair of goals and assists, while other contributions came from Ryan Longmuir (1+2), Kelton Travis (3A), Sandum (2G), Butterwick (2G) Muenchrath (1+1), Kale Clouston (1+1), Tyler Skehar (1G) and midget-A Storm affiliated player Chayse Clayton chipped in with an assist.
Clayton’s teammate on the Storm ‘A’ was Ethan Rycroft, who made his second appearance with the Chiefs in net. He turned away all 12 shots for his first shutout.
“Ethan has been practicing with us lots. He’s a local guy and I thought he earned the opportunity to go in net,” said Gass.
The Chiefs (15-1-1) traveled down Dec. 4 to the Nicholas Sheran Ice Centre to battle Lethbridge Hurricanes (6-8-3).
Hnatowich registered the hat trick and one assist as the Chiefs tamed the Hurricanes 6-3.
Other markers came from Travis, Benoit and Sandum, with assists to Zachary Suntjens (2), Clayton (2), Romashenko (2), Muenchrath, Butterwick and Brady Skiffington.
Only one game on the docket for the Chiefs this weekend, as they host the Airdrie Lightning Dec. 11 (7 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre.

 

Braves fall
The Bow Valley Timberwolves (9-3-2) doubled the peewee Braves 8-4 Dec. 4 at the Spray Lakes Sawmills Family Sports Centre.
Matt Dovichak was peppered in net for the Braves (3-13-2), making 34 stops.
Forward Nolan Mahussier was in on every goal, finishing with one goal and three helpers. Tate Yule added one goal and one assist, with other goals coming from Ryder Many Grey Horses and Cole Tweit. Adam Moore tallied one assist.
The Braves host the Timberwolves Dec. 9 at Hussar Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Two days later, the Braves host the Okotoks Oilers Black (5-8-2) at the Strathmore Family Centre. That game gets underway at 4:15 p.m.