The Olds Grizzlys suffered three straight defeats last week, extending their current winless streak to four straight Alberta Junior Hockey League games.
The Grizzlys lost 5-1 on Wednesday in Drumheller to the Dragons, 2-1 on Friday in Fort McMurray to the Oil Barons and 5-2 in Sherwood Park to the Crusaders on Satuday.
Brett Hopfe, the team's head coach, said in the first two games last week, the Grizzlys' work ethic was not what it should have been, with the team putting forth a better effort against the Crusaders.
“I think that for a majority of the games our work ethic wasn't there. It's disappointing to see that,” he said.
Hopfe said the effort in Sherwood Park was much better, but the team wasn't rewarded for its hard work. The Grizzlys outshot the Crusaders 29-27, but went 0 for 5 on the power play.
“That last game, it gives us something to build off of,” he said.
The power play went 0 for 13 on the entire road trip. Hopfe said he has juggled some of the lines in order to find some more chemistry and get that part of the team back on track.
“It's definitely been struggling. We've switched some lines up here to try and give some of our players more chemistry … with some other players to see if they can produce a little bit more offence for us. I think the guys have looked good so far playing with different linemates so I anticipate more offensive output,” he said.
Hopfe said the players need to be hungrier for the puck, especially in front of the net, to increase the four-goal output the Grizzlys managed in three games last week.
“We've got quite a few shots but just haven't battled hard enough to get those rebounds so we'll work on that in practice and we'll definitely get better,” he said.
Now that the Grizzly have dipped below the .500 mark at seven wins, nine losses and one overtime loss, and sit sixth in the south division, Hopfe said some players may be packing their bags in order for the team to start going in the right direction.
“We'll be looking to add a player or move a player out of here, just for a bit of a shakeup,” he said.
