The Dragons knew it was going to be a tough September when the schedule came out, but there is hope it will make them stronger as the season progresses.
The Dragons have played only two home league games this September, and will not be back on the ice in Drumheller Memorial arena for another week and a half.
“It is difficult because you are travelling and playing so much, but it ends up a huge positive for the team because you learn how to play on the road, and you have a little bigger roster in September,” said head coach Dan Price. “Hopefully when we get into October and we’re home, we are healthier and fresher and some of these close games will start going in our favour because we have a little extra gas.”
The Dragons were one for three last week, after successfully closing out the Calgary Canucks 2-1 on Tuesday, but falling to the Olds Grizzlys in a close 4-3 loss on Thursday. On Saturday they were in Brooks and lost 4-0.
In Calgary Tuesday, the game remained scoreless through two periods. The Canucks drew first blood, the Dragons responded a couple shifts later as Giovanni Bombini scored his first goal as a Dragon. Less than 30 seconds later Doug Jones scored the winner.
“It was a great response by our guys, it was a demonstration of skill and that habitability, being able to play and respond at big times, and then holding on to get a penalty kill done at the end of the game and get the win,” said Price.
Again, he was impressed by the response of his team versus Olds. The teams were tied after the first with Keith Csizmadia and Trevor Tracy scoring for the Dragons. Olds took the lead in the second, but the Dragons responded with a goal from Kevin McMillan on the power play. The Dragons’ division rival scored at the 11th minute of the third period to take the win.
“A really important characteristic of the team, which I am happy to see, is that we responded well. If we scored, we would have a really good shift. If we got scored on, we had another really good shift,” said Price.
Three games last week on the road wore on the Dragons as they headed to Brooks on Saturday. The Dragons matched the Bandits with shots and puck control in the first, but they ran out of steam. The Bandits scored twice in the second period, and twice in the third to win.
“The guys kept competing, it was good from that sense, but Brooks won the special teams battle and that was key to the game,” said Price
The Dragons still have a busy week. They are on the road to Sherwood Park this Wednesday, and then off to the Showcase Weekend in Spruce Grove to face the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Friday and then the Grande Prairie Storm on Saturday.
The Dragons are back in the Drumheller Memorial Arena on Saturday, October 8 to face Sherwood Park.
