Following a 5-3 loss to the last-place Calgary Mustangs at the Sportsplex, Grizzlys head coach Brett Hopfe ripped his team for the disappointing performance, calling it the worst effort on the ice he's seen in years.
The Grizzlys were coming off a 6-0 home victory over the Drumheller Dragons earlier that week but failed to pick up their third straight win on Dec. 5.
Calgary also outshot the Grizzlys 43-29.
“We didn't deserve a lead, we didn't deserve any goals, really,” Hopfe said. “Guys were thinking it was going to be an easy game. No game in this league is easy.”
Hopfe stressed his team needs to respect their opponents. In junior hockey, there are no guaranteed victories, he said.
“Kids that play in this league deserve to play in this league,” he said. “You can't sleep in any game. You've got to be prepared to work hard, compete any time you're on the ice and if you're not, tonight's a result.”
At 8:02 of the second period, the Grizzlys held a 3-1 lead after Ty Mappin was credited with a goal off a deflection.
Mustangs forward Mason Mitchell responded about two minutes later, cutting the lead to one before the second intermission.
Five minutes into the third, Dylan Sakatch converted on a three-on-one rush to tie the game.
Defenceman Spencer Johnstone scored the go-ahead goal for the Mustangs with 1:33 left in the period before forward Scott Salberg potted an empty-netter with seconds remaining.
“I just saw our guy going to the net so I thought I'd pinch down and I was lucky enough for the puck to come across. It was a nice pass from our winger and I just finished the play,” Johnstone said on the game-winner.
“We've had success in this barn before. We were just out there, tried to keep pressure on them and finish the whole 60 minutes, keep pucks going on the net and stay on top of their players.”
The Mustangs have an 8-23-2 record, eight points behind the Calgary Canucks for the final playoff spot. Johnstone said the team goal this year has been to play hard for the entire game and hopefully make the post-season.
That night, the Grizzlys also held their tuque and teddy toss, where spectators were invited to throw donations for the Christmas Angels onto the ice after the first Olds goal.
Newly-acquired Grizzly Jade McMullen delivered that goal 3:15 into the first on the power play, one of two he scored against the Mustangs.
