The Olds Grizzlys split a pair of games last week in Alberta Junior Hockey League play against the Calgary Mustangs and Camrose Kodiaks. The Grizzlys lost 4-2 on Jan. 24 against the Mustangs at the Father David Bauer Arena, but rebounded with a 4-2 victory Friday at the Olds Sports Complex against the Kodiaks.
In Friday's game, the two teams were tied after 40 minutes of play, with Lucas Grundy and Dylan Hubbs (power play) getting goals for the Grizzlys while Craig Bokenfohr and Landon Kadatz (power play), replied for the Kodiaks.
Midway through the second period, with the game tied at 2-2, the Grizzlys managed to kill off a 1:22 two-man disadvantage. Brett Hopfe, the Grizzlys' head coach, said that kill was a key point in the game.
"Scott Antonsen and Tanner Sather, both those guys were out there for quite a long time (during the penalties) and did most of our (penalty killing). Those guys lately have been great on our pk. Our pk has really stepped up and a lot of that has to do with those two guys and our defencemen have done a phenomenal job boxing out in front of the net as well,î he said.
In the third period, Spencer Dorowicz got the game winner when he pounced on a rebound off a point shot from Brodie Clowes. Dorowicz said he simply followed the play to its end, and was in an excellent scoring position to take advantage of the rebound. Clay Howe added an empty-net goal with one second left on the clock.
"It was me and (Brandon) Clowes going in on the forecheck and he somehow found the puck and threw it out to his brother Ö and he threw it on net and I was just there for the rebound and put it in,î he said.
Dorowicz said the two-man disadvantage that the Grizzlys managed to kill off gave the Grizzlys a big boost in momentum for the remainder of the game.
"That was definitely key for this game. We needed that momentum boost. Just a big shift in momentum for us and it ended up being a huge play for our team to get the two points for us,î he said.
Hopfe said he knew going into the game it would take a workmanlike effort to beat the Kodiaks, and the Grizzlys managed to do that in his view.
"It was pretty much the type of game that we expected. It was going to be a hard-working game for both teams and Ö our game plan going into it was just to outwork them and I think that obviously we did outwork them,î he said.
With only seven games remaining in the regular schedule after Friday ñ and two at home, including last night against the Drumheller Dragons ñ Hopfe said it would be key to dictate the play at home while playing solid games on the road.
"If we can get some consistent efforts on the road, then hopefully we can put some wins together going into the playoffs,î he said.
Neither Chase Paylor nor Ty Morgan suited up for the Grizzlys Friday as both forwards were serving suspensions. Paylor sat out both Friday's and Monday's games after he was assessed a major penalty for a hit to the head in the third period of last week's loss to the Mustangs. Morgan was eligible to return to the lineup Monday after serving a two-game suspension for being assessed his eighth fighting major of the season Jan. 21 in Brooks, when he tangled with the Bandits' Taylor Elliott.
"That (two-man penalty kill) was definitely key for this game. We needed that momentum boost."Spencer Dorowicz, Olds Grizzlys' forward
