OLDS — A 10-4 win by the Olds Grizzlys versus the Xtreme Nov.15 in Devon was great for the ego and team morale, but the Grizzlys can’t let that go to their heads as they get back on the ice this weekend, head coach Brad Tobin says.
The Grizzlys play a home-and-home series against Drayton Valley Thunder this weekend -- Friday night in Drayton Valley, Saturday night at home.
“Against Drayton Valley we just to need make sure that we’re getting pucks and bodies to the net. We did a good job of that against Devon on Saturday,” Tobin wrote in a text to the Albertan.
“We need to keep them to the outside in our defensive zone and make sure that they aren’t generating any grade A scoring opportunities.”
The same holds true when they host the division-leading Camrose Kodiaks next Friday, Nov. 29.
Tobin said there are guys on both those teams that the Grizzlys need to contain.
He cited Drayton Valley left wing Cooper Brown as one example.
As of Nov. 21, Brown had scored nine goals, including two powerplay goals, and picked up seven assists for 19 points in 20 games.
Tobin said Kodiaks forwards Sam Lozinski and Garret Thom also need to be contained.
As of Nov. 21, Lozinski had racked up nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points in 20 games, including three powerplay goals.
As of that date, Thom had scored 12 goals – including five with the man advantage -- and picked up seven assists for 19 points in 21 games.
Tobin indicated that the 10-goal outburst versus the Xtreme was an example of what the Grizzlys are capable of.
“We weren’t happy with our offence on Friday in Whitecourt (a 3-0 shutout) and the guys made it their mission to put as many pucks on need as possible,” Tobin wrote.
“We got rewarded, going 3/3 on the powerplay and putting up 10 goals. “We need to keep that mind-set going into the weekend.”
