DIDSBURY – It was a win and a loss for the Mountainview Colts in their home and home with the league-leading Cochrane Generals.
Assistant coach Michael Galye said the team played well overall and coaches were happy with the split.
“Gord (head coach Olson) and I both agree, ultimately you want to split with these top teams in the south,” said assistant coach Michael Galye.
“That's kind of the reality of it. That's what we hope for. If you win both it's a bonus. They're a good hockey team. I think, overall, we played pretty good hockey.”
Galye said that the team stepped up to face the tough competition. “Our boys elevate their game whenever we play those top teams. They know what's at stake and they want to show well.”
On Friday at home, the Colts were led by two goals each from Trey Wallace and Colton Anderson as they pulled away in the third and won 6-3.
The teams were tied 2-2 after one period with Anderson and Cole Sutherland scoring for Mountainview and Talus Hume scoring a pair for the visitors. The third period saw Cochrane take a 3-2 lead on Hume's hat-trick goal at 8:18. Anderson tied it up less than a minute later assisted by Evan Ingram and Alan Klinck.
The third period was all Colts as the team pulled away with three unanswered. Scoring were Wallace with his pair and Ingram with a single.
“I thought we played really good system hockey on Friday at home,” said Galye. “We implemented our forecheck system and had it down to a science. We took away neutral ice zone against them. Our power play had some success. Our goaltending was stellar. I thought we pretty much outplayed them for 60 minutes. It was a great game.”
Saturday saw the Colts travel to Cochrane for the back half of the home and home. The result was much the same only in reverse. The teams played close for two periods before the home team pulled away with a strong effort in the third period to take an 8-4 win.
“We implemented the same game plan,” said Galye. “We ran into some penalty trouble that cost us a little but we battled back.”
The Colts led 2-1 after one period on goals from Sutherland and Ingram. The teams were then tied 4-4 after two periods. The tide turned in the third period after Mountainview's starting goaltender Jake Carlson was run over by a Cochrane player.
“Everything went awry,” said Galye. “Temperatures rose. Emotions got the best of everyone. They got one early and we got some penalties. Just one of those days. The wheels came off the bus.”
Anderson had another strong outing scoring twice once again. Sutherland and Ingram were the other scorers for Mountainview.
The Colts are back in action this weekend with a game Friday at Three Hills and then Saturday at home against the Northern Division-leading Airdrie Thunder.
