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Warriors get back in win column

It was a weekend of ups and downs for the Westlock Senior 'AA' Warriors, who earned their third win of the season, but also suffered their third loss, in back-to-back North Central Hockey League games. On Friday, Nov.
Warrior Derek Teske tries to corral the puck during their 9-1 loss to the Morinville Kings at the Rotary Spirit Centre on Friday. The Warriors rebounded Saturday with a 5-3
Warrior Derek Teske tries to corral the puck during their 9-1 loss to the Morinville Kings at the Rotary Spirit Centre on Friday. The Warriors rebounded Saturday with a 5-3 road win over the Rocky Rams.

It was a weekend of ups and downs for the Westlock Senior 'AA' Warriors, who earned their third win of the season, but also suffered their third loss, in back-to-back North Central Hockey League games.

On Friday, Nov. 13 the Warriors were looking to put an end to a two-game losing streak when they hosted the Morinville Kings at the Rotary Spirit Centre.

The streak continued as Ryan Nelles scored the only goal for the Warriors in a 9-1 shellacking.

Morinville got on the board early and often and led 4-0 at the first intermission.

Despite putting 17 shots on net in the period, coach Joe Kuhar said it was another slow start for his team.

"We've had three of them in a row like that,” he said.

"We pretty much outworked them, but we didn't have the bounces go our way. We hit a few posts and what have you, but that's just the way it went.”

The Kings continued their dominance of the Warriors in the second, scoring five times on 14 shots on backup Marcus Johnson, who took over for starter Chris Kuhar in the second.

Coach Kuhar said it wasn't a spectacular showing from either of his goalies.

"Not to lay any blame, but we have to have out goaltenders sort of win a game for us and stop the first one and have a chance at the [rebound],” Kuhar said.

"Unfortunate that's what they didn't do for us that night and that maybe would have been the difference in the momentum in that game.”

In the third, Kuhar was back between the pipes and turned away all 12 shot he faced, while Nelles broke the Morinville shutout bid.

"We always own the third period,” Kuhar said. "We weren't going to sit down and die.”

On Saturday, Nov. 14, the Warriors travelled to Rocky Mountain House where they ended their losing streak with a 5-3 win over the Rocky Rams.

The Warriors wasted no time and scored four first period goals to lead 4-1 at the intermission.

"We got there late — our bus had a blowout and so we had a very short warm up and I think that might have been enough to get the blood running,” Kuhar said.

"We had a quick jump right off the get go and it made the difference … it gave us some momentum for sure.”

The Warriors didn't look back and held on for the victory to even their record at 3-3.

"It got the monkey off the back for sure,” Kuhar said. "It gave us that encouragement that we're able to be winners.”

The Warriors now return home for a three-game homestand, starting with a Friday, Nov. 20 matchup against the Slave Lake Winterhawks.

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