The Olds Grizzlys' winning streak was stopped at seven games with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Camrose Kodiaks on Friday at the Edgeworth Centre in Camrose.
But Brett Hopfe, the Grizzlys newly-named head coach, said the Grizzlys outplayed their Alberta Junior Hockey League counterparts and should have easily won the game.
"I think we outplayed them the whole Ö game. When you get to the shootout it's basically a flip of a coin who wins the game. The outcome didn't represent how we played in that game,î he said.
Hopfe said the Grizzlys had a territorial advantage during the game that wasn't reflected on the shot clock, with the Kodiaks outshooting the Grizzlys 36-31.
"The first period, we could have been up two or three goals, we just couldn't capitalize on the chances we had. If we went into overtime and played a regular overtime period (instead of three-on-three), I think we would have won that game,î he said.
The Grizzlys led the game after two periods on goals by Chris Stachiw and Casey Rogers, but a first-minute goal in the third period by the Kodiaks' Landon Kadatz knotted the game. Nelson Gadoury then beat Brandon Thiessen for the game winner after a scoreless overtime.
Not deterred by the loss, the Grizzlys travelled to Brooks on Saturday where they beat the south division-leading Bandits 4-2.
After taking the lead on a first-period goal by Tanner Dunkle, the Grizzlys then found themselves down midway through the second on successive power-play goals by Anthony Petruzzelli and Ryan Luiten. Dunkle then tied the game after notching his second of the game, on the power play.
Bart Moran (power play) and Brandon Clowes, (unassisted, short-handed) rounded out the scoring for the Grizzlys in the third period.
Hopfe said the win over the Bandits (who are 21 points ahead of the second-place Kodiaks in the south division) was a big confidence-booster for the Grizzlys.
"We've talked about it throughout the last few games here, if we want to do anything in playoffs we're going to have to face either Camrose or Brooks on our way out of the south, so we've talked about putting wins together against those teams. It's something that Ö will stick in (the opposition's) minds and our minds that we can beat this team and we want to set a tone so that they remember that we're a hard team to play against,î he said.
Prior to Friday's loss, the Grizzlys extended their winning streak to seven games with a 3-2 victory on home ice over the Okotoks Oilers on Jan. 17. Grizzly goals came from Dylan Hubbs, Chase Paylor and newcomer Mitch Owsley, who was picked up at the Jan. 10 trade deadline from the Drumheller Dragons.
