A flat first period in which the Calgary Mustangs scored three unanswered goals cost the Olds Grizzlys on Jan. 24 in Alberta Junior Hockey League action at the Olds Sports Complex.
The Mustangs skated to a 3-2 victory on the strength of the three first period goals by Phelan Shaw, Josh Betinol and a power-play goal by Carson McCormick. The Grizzlys were outshot 13-6 in the first 20 minutes of play.
In the second and third periods, while the shot totals were relatively evenó 12-11 and 12-9 for the Grizzlys respectivelyó the home team still lost many battles for the puck. Landon Kletke got the Grizzlys on the board in the second with a power-play goal and Spencer Dorowicz added to his league-leading point total with an assist on Kletke's goal and then stuffed a wraparound attempt past Mustangs goaltender Jeff Orser in the second period while the Grizzlys were down a man.
Following the game, Grizzlys head coach Brett Hopfe said he wasn't impressed by the team's effort, especially as the squad heads toward the playoffs.
ìWe got off to an extremely slow start. There were guys that really took that first period off and that really cost us. Our scoring opportunities in the second and third periods were phenomenal and I think that we had a lack of determination around the net, and determination goes a long ways,î he said.
Hopfe said with a better work ethic, some of the chances the Grizzlys had in the second and third periods might have turned out differently. He cited Dorowicz's goal as one example where determination paid off.
ìSome of these players wonder how he gets all of his points. He works as hard as he can every time he steps on the ice and it seems like the puck follows him around. It follows him around because he works hard and is determined and there's guys (during the game) that had some glorious opportunities to score a goal and just couldn't do it for whatever reason. I think a lot of it has to do with determination,î he said.
Hopfe said the next two games at home, beginning on Jan. 28 and another on Jan. 31, would be a good test for the Grizzlys. Both games are against the Drumheller Dragons, who sat in second place in the AJHL's south division after weekend games, while the Grizzlys are in sixth.
