The Drumheller Dragons split over the weekend, and so far new head coach and general manager Barry Wolfe likes the work ethic he is seeing on the ice.
Last Monday Wolfe was on the ice with the team for the first time after Dan Price was released from the Dragons. On Friday night, the Dragons came up with a win in their first game under the watch of Wolfe, and on Saturday were in contention before losing a close one.
“I was extremely impressed with the work ethic in these two games, and all week,” said Wolfe. “If we continue to provide that work ethic, it is going to pay off and win us some games.”
He said another plus is the culture team has created.
“I am really impressed with the ownership on down to the staff. To me, it has all been first class, and hopefully I can add to that and keep things going the right way,” said Wolfe.
The Dragons hosted the Calgary Canucks Friday night in front of 556 fans. The Dragons outshot the Canucks in the first period, but it wasn’t until seven minutes into the second period that Trevor Tracy connected from Sam Lawson and Doug Jones, to put the Dragons on the scoreboard. The Canucks evened it up just two minutes later.
The Dragons were one for five on the powerplay, but the one made all the difference when Keith Csizmadia scored with 1:45 left in the game, from Brennan Baxandall and Tracy.
Braden Gamble had 35 stops and Tracy was awarded the star of the game.
Going into the weekend’s game Wolfe said in practice he was stressing getting the puck to the net.
“We stressed just getting some shots, don’t worry about making that fancy play, we need that opportunity. If you don’t shoot you don’t score,” he said.
The Dragons home stand continued on Saturday night, this time hosting Calgary Mustangs.
The Mustangs struck first midway through the first period, but the Dragons went up 2-1 in the second period after Lawson scored assisted by Spencer Samuel and Tracey six minutes in, and then Csizmadia scored short handed at the 10 minute mark, assisted by Kenton Levesque and Giovanni Bombini.
The Dragons outshot the Mustangs 12-6 in this period, but three of the Mustangs shots connected, all on the powerplay. The final goal was on an empty net.
“We felt there were four or five opportunities that we didn’t score,” said Wolfe. “That was the turning point for us, we missed opportunities, they got a lucky one.”
Wolfe said the team has a strong nucleus intact.
“We have some good young guys that are going to be very good in the future. Up front we have some pretty good skilled guys,” said Wolfe. “Slowly but surely, it will come around.”
The Dragons played Tuesday night, results not available at press time, and Wolfe says they will be better able to assess the team, and if he sees the opportunity to make positive changes, they will seize it.
“Obviously if we can improve the team, we definitely will,” said Wolfe.
The Dragons have had a slow start to the season and are sitting one floor up from the basement in the southern division with a 6-15 record. Despite being battered, they are not beaten.
“Over the week it has been very upbeat and positive. We are definitely changing the culture, and if there was a negative one there, it is definitely not there now. For us the season started on Friday, and we want to build every day from there on.”
