The Olds Grizzlys earned three points in three Alberta Junior Hockey League games on the road last week, beating the Canmore Eagles 8-5 before losing 3-2 to the Lloydminster Bobcats in overtime and losing 4-1 to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons.
The Grizzlys were tied for fifth with the Camrose Kodiaks and the Drumheller Dragons in the league's south division after the weekend's play against Fort McMurray and Lloydminster at the AJHL Showcase in Spruce Grove.
Brett Hopfe, the Grizzlys' head coach, said he thought the team played well overall. While he said the team didn't have its best game against the Oil Barons, the team hung in against the north division leader, with the Oil Barons getting a late empty-net goal to put the game out of reach in the extra frame.
“I think we played pretty well against Canmore. I think we didn't play our best game against Fort McMurray but we were still in the game and still had an opportunity to win in the end. I thought on (Sept. 28 against the Bobcats) we played extremely well considering we were short-handed for most of the game and we weren't given a whole lot of opportunity to get the momentum back,” he said.
The Grizzlys managed to kill off all five Oil Baron power plays on Sept. 27. The Grizzlys managed one goal on eight opportunities.
“I thought our penalty kill did a great job containing them. That team there is a very well-coached team,” Hopfe said. “We learnt a lot from that game there.”
BJ Duffin and team captain Spencer Dorowicz each had big games against the Eagles on Sept. 24, with Duffin scoring two goals and two assists, while Dorowicz scored three times and added one assist.
“Those are two guys that we've told in the off-season that we're going to rely on them heavily to help us out offensively and they both had a great offensive output there. (Dorowicz) is just leading by example,” he said.
Hopfe said even though the team is performing slightly under expectation currently, he's been impressed with the growth of the Grizzlys' young players.
“For us to come that close (against the Oil Barons) without having played really a full game in my mind, I think the future's bright for our organization,” he said.
The Grizzlys made two roster moves last week, picking up forward Ty Mappin from the Everett Silvertips while trading away Damien Kulynych to the OCN Blizzard of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Hopfe said Mappin is a true offensive player that fans in Olds will enjoy watching.
“He's a player that doesn't really come along that often. He's got a lot of pressure on his shoulders as a 17-year-old guy. We're just trying to relieve some of that pressure. I see him as a big contributor for us,” he said.
