OLDS — The Olds Grizzlys take on the Eagles in Canmore Friday night in another game against a daunting opponent.
As of Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Eagles were first in the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s South Division standings with a record of 32-11-4-1in 48 games, a full 40 points higher than the basement-dwelling Grizzlys (14-32-1-0 in 47 games).
Things did not go well for the Grizzlys during the Family Day long weekend.
They were pounded 9-1 Calgary Canucks at home on Friday night, then hammered 11-2 by the Dragons in Drumheller on Saturday night.
Friday night’s game got off to a humbling start.
The Canucks scored three unanswered goals on 21 shots in the first period, then another one shorthanded in the second period.
Finally the Grizzlys got on the board, thanks to Johnny Maruna’s fifth goal, assisted by Jack Bouck and Nolan Viesner at 15:56 of the second frame.
But that was it for Grizzlys scoring.
The Canucks scored five more unanswered goals to finish the game.
Connor Johnson went the distance in goal for the Grizzlys, stopping 43 of 52 shots he faced. The Grizzlys fired 31 shots at Canucks netminder Cruz Chase.
Both teams were 0/3 with the man advantage.
Maruna was the game star for the Grizzlys. Bowden Singleton was the game star for the Canucks.
Things got off to a grim start on Saturday night as well.
The Dragons scored four straight goals in the first period before Jonathan Doucette of the Grizzlys replied with his 12th goal, a shortie, at 12:33 of that first frame, assisted by Viesner.
However, the Dragons scored three more before Grizzly forward Keeghan Dunn scored his third goal at the 10:43 mark of the second period, assisted by Keil Schmalz and Jack Bouck.
The Dragons added two more goals in the second period and another two in the third to round out the scoring.
Ben Dardis started in net for the Grizzlys but was pulled at the 9:49 mark of the first period after allowing three goals on seven shots. He was replaced by Johnson who stopped 26 of 33 shots he faced.
Dragons goaltender Sean Cootes only had to contend with 16 shots fired his way.
Olds was 0/6 on the powerplay. The Dragons were 3/5.
Doucette was the visiting team star. Jase Johnson was the home team star.
“We’re not playing good hockey. It’s frustrating,” Grizzlys head coach Brad Tobin wrote in a text.
