BARRHEAD - It was a disappointing three games for the Barrhead Bombers last weekend, earning one point, a 5-4 overtime loss at the Agrena on Feb. 24, in the first game of the two-game home and home series against the Cold Lake Aeros.
In the first period, the Bombers took a 2-1 lead thanks to goals by Riley Doerkson, assisted by Kale Williams and Jordan Martens, and Christopher Vinck, assisted by Cade Bohn and Marco Russo, as well as the strength of starting netminder Laine Macintosh after the home team was outshot 21-11.
In the second period, the Bombers recovered their equilibrium, with their play much improved, outshooting Cold Lake by 13-11 and the territorial advantage being more or less equal. But unfortunately for the Bombers, the Aeros scored the only goal of the period.
Cold Lake took an early lead to start the third period, scoring the first goal just a minute and a half in.
In the second game the next night, in Cold Lake, the Bombers lost 4-3, while their first game on Feb. 23 was a 9-4 loss against the Vegreville Vipers.
The Bombers would tie the game just short of the halfway mark on a goal by Keenan Disbrowe, assisted by Marcus Stoby and Doerkson, tying the game.
Regrettably, Barrhead could not sustain its momentum, and Cold Lake quickly rebounded, retaking the lead, scoring on the rush just over a minute later.
Late in the game, the Bombers would tie the game after pulling their goaltender for an extra attacker, winning an offensive zone faceoff, setting up Martens for a one-timer from the middle of the left circle.
Cold Lake sealed their victory with a goal 19 seconds into overtime on the rush.
Assistant captain Jordan Martens said after the game that the Bombers have gotten off to poor starts in recent games, which has hurt them.
"Our team has been on a pretty rough stretch of late, and sometimes it can be challenging to get into games after tough losses because we are tentative," he said.
Martens also noted that the team has been playing shorthanded with just nine skaters for multiple games before the all-star break and just after.
"We just brought two new players [Kale Williams and Keegan Vansickle], and they've made a big impact, especially considering the lack of practice time with us," he said, adding he believes the team is close to turning the corner. "We played a strong game against a tough opponent, and if we clean up a few things and get off to a better start, we are right there."
Since returning from the Canadian American Junior Hockey League all-star break, it has been difficult, recording one point in the tie above against Cold Lake.
The only other game they've played since the all-star break was a 14-2 against the Vegreville Vipers on the road on Feb. 16.
Despite the lopsided score, Barrhead played a much stronger game than the score might suggest — but a disastrous first period, where the Vipers outshot the Bombers 20-9 and outscored them 5-1, and a poorly time, unintentional major penalty ended up costing them three goals.
The Bombers next play the Vegreville and Cold Lake in a pair of road games on March 1 and 2 before closing out the regular season at home on March 8 and 9 in the return matchup against the Vipers and Aeros.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
