OLDS — It’s another daunting task for the Olds Grizzlys this Wednesday, Feb. 16 when they travel to Brooks to take on the Bandits.
Not only were the Brooks Bandits leading the Alberta Junior Hockey league overall and the AJHL Viterra South Division (47-5-2 for 96 points in 54 games) as of Monday, Feb. 14, but last week they were named the top overall team in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top 20 rankings.
The Grizzlys, meanwhile, are last in the AJHL Viterra South with a 7-40-6 record for 20 points in 53 games.
But, there was some good news for the Black and Gold this past weekend.
Both of their losses were pretty close.
In fact, their 4-3 loss to the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Friday night at the Sportsplex came via a shootout.
Grizzlys goals were scored by August Olson from Hale Schoneck and Logan Neilson, Neilson from Lowie Vreys and Sawyer Senio plus a powerplay marker by Tanner Klimpke, assisted by Neilson and Brendan McBride.
On Saturday, they only lost to the Saints in Spruce Grove by two goals: 5-3.
Grizzlys goals were scored by Logan Neilson (unassisted), Tyler Green from Aidan Coupe, and Hudson Norris from Colby Browne.
Norris’s goal, scored at 15:56 of the third period, brought the Grizzlys within a goal. However, the Saints got an empty-netter at 19:21 to seal the win.
There’s a chance for a win on Friday, Feb. 18 when the Grizzlys host the Calgary Canucks at the Sportsplex in the first of two back-to-back games. Game time is 7 p.m. The Canucks host the Grizzlys Saturday night in Calgary.
The Canucks are in seventh place in the eight-team Viterra South division with a record of 12-36-6 for 34 points in 54 games.
