The Drumheller Dragons are struggling as of late, losing their third consecutive game since last Friday.
The loss gives the Dragons a 2-4 record and puts them in last place of the AJHL southern division, three points behind the Calgary Canucks.
The Dragons were in Calgary on Tuesday night to face the southern division second place team, the Mustangs.
The Mustangs got on the scoreboard in the first five minutes of the first period. Brodie Jamieson, with help from Bryton Mills and Brennan Baxandall, retaliated soon after.
The Mustangs responded with three more goals. Down 4-1, Mitchell Cook scored the Dragons second goal, off of Bryton Mills and Brodie Jamieson. A goal by Ryan Bloom, with assists going to Stephen Doane and Ryan Aasman, brought the score to 4-3 by the end of the first period.
Blair Wentworth of the Mustangs took a kneeing penalty two minutes into the second period. The Dragons took advantage of the power play opportunity. Stephen Doane, with help from Christopher Rauckman and Brennan Baxandall, tied the game up.
The score was 4-4 at the end of the second period. The Dragons took the lead five minutes into the third with a goal from Stephen Doane, assists going to Dakota Zaharichuk and Brodie Jamieson.
However, it would not last. The Mustangs came back and scored two more goals with just under 10 minutes left in the game. The Dragons couldn’t retaliate and lost by a narrow 6-5.
“We’ve had some really good opportunities. We haven’t played our best hockey, but I think we deserve a little better outcome than what we’ve been getting,” said Brian Curran, head coach and general manager of the Drumheller Dragons. “We had three cross-bars, a goal post, missed an empty net, and we had one puck in the slot we missed. The opportunities are there.”
The priority for the next game will be to strengthen the defensive aspect of their game.
“I think we have to tighten up on our defence and capitalize on our chances. We need a commitment more to our zone and bear down on those opportunities in our zone. We need our goaltending to be a bit stronger too,” said Curran.
“I think the boys are working hard, but have to stop doing all these fly-bys and get more physical, bumping, and finishing our checks a little more.”
The Dragons headed to Spruce Grove for the AJHL Showcase last night. The Dragons faced the Sherwood Park Crusaders yesterday evening and will go up against the Olds Grizzlys tonight. The Dragons return to Drumheller on October 17.
Stephen Doane races to secure a loose puck in the offensive zone at the Dragons season opener earlier this month. Doane was given the Away Star in the Dragons game against the Calgary Mustangs on Tuesday. The Dragons lost 6-5, but Doane racked up one goal and one assist during the game.
