Hard work begining to pay off for Wheatland Braves

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

It’s something Wheatland Braves coach has been begging his players to do all year — out-work your opposition.
As the South Central Alberta Hockey League season winds down, the local double-A peewee team (9-18-3) find themselves playing their best hockey, and it comes as no surprise to their bench boss on the reason why the turnaround has occurred.
“We are finally beginning to see what happens when we bring 60 minutes of effort,” said Braves head coach Keith Klemmensen. “We come to the rink with the good feeling, that we are going to work hard. And the best part is, there is no ceiling on how hard we can work.”
The Braves dusted off the 11-14-4 Chestermere Lakers 3-1 Feb. 17 at the Chestermere Regional Community Association Red Rink.
On the power play in the first, Nolan Mahussier took the puck at the blue line from Adam Moore. He cycled it down deep, wrapped around the net into the slot and wired it top shelf.
Tied at one in the second, Ryder Many Grey Horses, who has been one of the better goal scorers for the Braves, received a friendly bounce when his cross-crease pass bounced off Lakers defenseman Nate Gillis’s skate and went in.
Many Grey Horses chipped in his 14th goal and the insurance marker in the third from Nolan Bell. Matthew Dovichak stopped 13 Laker shots for his third win.
The Braves five-game point streak was halted Feb. 19 at the Genesis Place Rink when the Airdrie Lightning Red brushed back the Braves 3-2.
Carter Gosling and Cole Whelan each recorded a goal and an assist as Rhett Harten made 22 saves in net.
The Braves have three home games to wrap up the season. The first goes Feb. 26 at the Strathmore Family Centre when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes Red (20-6-3). Puck drop is set for 1:30 p.m.

 

Chiefs improve win record
A pair of wins by the Wheatland Chiefs extended their point streak to 13 games.
The local double-A midget team doubled up the then Calgary-division-leading CBHA Rangers 6-3 Feb. 17 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
Chayse Hnatowich registered a goal and two assists to lead the local double-A team, as Riley Romashenko popped in a pair. Lucas Muenchrath and Robert Butterwick recorded a goal and an assist each and Kale Clouston supplied one snipe.
The Chiefs (28-2-3) beat up on the Foothills Bisons (4-27-2) 8-2 Feb. 18 at the Tom Hornecker Recreation Centre.
Isaac Benoit punched in four goals and one assist, Brady Skiffington picked up three helpers, while Tyler Skehar, Muenchrath and Clouston recorded a one-plus-one outing.
The Chiefs take on both Okotoks Oilers squads this weekend. First, they host the Oilers Green (11-17-4) Feb. 25 (7:30 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre. The following day, the Chiefs hit the road and battle the Oilers Black (16-11-4) at Murray Arena.

 

Warriors lose to Taber
The Wheatland Warriors were tripped up by the Taber Golden Suns 6-2 Feb. 19 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
Zach Stangness recorded his second on the season in the first from Austin Kuryk. Midway through the second frame, Kage Yellowfly tallied a short-handed marker from Kegan Law.
The Warriors host a pair of games this weekend at the Strathmore Family Centre. First, they welcome the Foothills Bisons Feb. 25 (4:45 p.m.), followed by a bout with the Cranbrook CPC Hornets Feb. 26 (12:15 p.m.).