It was a weekend of mixed emotions for the Midget Warriors at the Rotary Spirit Centre.
The Tier 3 team beat Leduc 4-2 in a regular 1660 Hockey League match-up, but their three-game winning streak came to an end at home Jan. 22 in a 6-4 loss to St. Albert in Game 1 of the provincial/zone playdowns.
Head coach Rick Dutchak said the boys played smart om Friday night’s game.
Although the club lagged behind, letting Leduc take a 1-0 lead in the first period, the Warriors bounced back with James Oloske netting the first goal in the second and again early in the third to tie the game 2-2.
“We got down right away, the boys were working hard, so I knew if they kept working hard they would outwork these guys,” he said.
The boys battled back and capitalized on several powerplays — Ryan Hoogewoonink and Addison Weir each sniped a goal to make the final 4-2.
“I figured that once they got one, then it would kick off and keep them going and sure enough, they kept skating,” Dutchak added.
Unfortunately, the tables turned in Sunday morning’s provincial playoff game against St. Albert.
That confidence that the Warriors carried in their league game backfired and the club suffered a disappointing 6-4 loss in the first of a two-game series.
“They got way too confident that they had a big lead and they went to sleep,” Dutchak said.
“We took a couple of stupid penalties and that changes the game, simple as that. We shouldn’t give up a three-goal lead at any time, let alone in provincials.”
The Warriors were ahead three goals five minutes into the first period, but after that, they let the game slide.
St. Albert got on the board with two goals at the end of the first. So with only a one-goal difference going into the second period, they fought hard and knocked in three more goals — and a fourth, which was not counted because of a delayed offside call.
St. Albert settled the score with one last goal in the third period for a final 6-4 tally.
The Warriors have a busy weekend ahead, with two away games Jan. 27 and 28, as well as Game 2 against St. Albert Jan. 29 in their arena. “We’ve got a big job to do next Sunday,” Dutchak said. “We’ll be fresher in memory and we’ve got to come to work. We’ve got to outwork them because we let them have it this time.”
