DIDSBURY – The Mountainview Colts missed out on a golden opportunity to gain ground on division-leading Airdrie on the weekend.
The Colts split games on the weekend once again, beating High River on the road Friday and falling to Strathmore on Saturday at home.
Assistant coach Michael Galye said the team played well on Friday but struggled Saturday with a lack of healthy bodies.
“We let it slide a bit on Saturday,” Galye said. “Friday I thought we played well. We were short a couple of guys with a few guys gone with family stuff and a couple of guys sick with the flu. We struggled a bit this weekend.”
Friday saw the Colts score the first five goals of the game and cruise to a 6-3 win over the Flyers. Mountainview had goals from six different skaters in the win (Cale Brown, Reed Engman, Cole Sutherland, Josh Gette, Alan Klinck and Raegen Keim).
Saturday in Didsbury, the situation was reversed with Strathmore going up 4-0 and picking up the 6-3 win over the Colts.
Mountainview finally got on the board with 3:05 left in the second period as Colton Anderson scored a short-handed marker to make the score 4-1.
Early third period goals from Keim and Jack Vergouwen brought the Colts to within one of the Kings but they would come no closer. Brooker Pretty Youngman and Keenan Ogle with an empty-netter closed out the scoring for the visitors.
“We just couldn't seem to get things rolling in the right direction,” said Galye. “We were behind right from the hop. Had a little goaltending lapse. All in all the team is still playing well. We've got some guys coming back and we're looking forward to this weekend. It's a big one.”
The Colts are busy this week with three games including a rare weekday affair Wednesday in Ponoka. On the weekend the team hosts Ponoka Friday and Medicine Hat Saturday.
In the first period Mountainview got goals from Alan Klinck, Raegen Keim and Reed Engman to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Cole Sutherland and Cale Brown put the Colts up 5-0 before Michael Shaefer put High River on the board.
Josh Gette gave the Colts a 6-1 lead midway through the third period. Evan Pakkala and Josh Younker scored two late third period goals for the Flyers to make the score a more respectable 6-3.
Thomas Della Siega picked up the win in net for the Colts turning away 26 shots.
