Despite a pair of losses on the weekend, the young Olds Grizzlys gained some valuable experience in Alberta Junior Hockey League play.
The team was defeated 5-3 on Sept. 13 in Okotoks by the Oilers, followed by a 4-3 loss the next night in Calgary against the Mustangs. The pair of losses gives the Grizzlys a 2-2 record thus far this season.
Brett Hopfe, the Grizzlys' head coach, said the two games featured two vastly different Grizzlys teams, with the squad playing poorly against the Oilers and having a much better game against the Mustangs. Hopfe said if it weren't for the play of Mustangs goaltender Ravi Dattani, the Grizzlys would have won the game. The Grizzlys' 24 shots on goal could have easily been 40, Hopfe said.
The Grizzlys were down 2-0 in Okotoks before getting on the board in the second with a goal from Chris Gerrie at 4:46. After tying the game midway through the period on a goal from Austin Kernahan, the Oilers then regained a two-goal advantage at 4-2 before the period was out. The two teams traded goals in the third period.
On Sept. 14 in Calgary, the Grizzlys played much better, according to Hopfe. The Grizzlys were down 3-1 after the first period, while the two teams traded goals in the second. After pulling goaltender Ethan Jemieff with 1:35 left in the game, the Grizzlys' six attackers managed one goal with Nikolas Koberstein finding the net with one second left in the game.
Hopfe said he was impressed with the way the team was able to control the puck against the Mustangs, with the Grizzlys having possession for a majority of the game. The team blocked shots in the defensive zone and won a lot of faceoffs.
“On Saturday … I feel it was the best game that we've played in the whole year so far and we completely dominated Calgary in the third period,” he said.
Hopfe said one of the differences between the two games is that the Grizzlys still have a few roster spots that need to be eliminated by Dec. 1 and that everyone needs to contribute if they want to stay with the team. That seemed to motivate the players against the Mustangs.
“Every hockey player that I know wants to be in the lineup. We've talked about it already this year; we focus one game at a time, we're not going to worry about the standings, we're not going wins and losses,” he said.
