After going four straight without a win, the Drumheller Dragons have broken their streak as of last Friday after a heated game against the Olds Grizzlys.
The Dragons, along with the rest of the AJHL, headed to Spruce Grove last Thursday for the second annual AJHL showcase. While there, the Dragons faced off against the Sherwood Park Crusaders and the Grizzlys.
The Dragons first went up against the Crusaders, who they had defeated earlier this season. The Dragons ended up losing 4-3.
The Crusaders got on the board first late in the first period, after Stephen Doane took a roughing penalty, resulting in a short handed Dragons. Late in the second period, the Crusaders sent two more shots past Dragons goaltender Jameson Shortreed.
Mitchell Cook got the Dragons on the scoreboard six minutes into the third period, with the assists going to Brodie Jamieson and Ryan Suchorab.
The Crusaders got their fourth goal soon after, but it was a little controversial.
“Their fourth goal, quite frankly, shouldn’t have been a goal. The puck was on top of our net and they hit it off with a stick. It should’ve been blown down, but it wasn’t,” said Brian Curran, head coach and general manager of the Dragons.
In the final minute of the game, the Dragons added two more goals thanks to Brennan Baxandall and Joey Raats.
“We made a couple mistakes that cost us. We tried to get back in the last couple minutes and got close, but not close enough,” said Curran. “It was 1-0 after the first period and then they scored two more, because we made mistakes at the blue line with the puck.”
The next day, the Dragons fared better against the Olds Grizzlys, winning 5-4.
The power play was on fire against the Grizzlys. All five Dragons goals were scored while the Grizzlys were short handed.
“Our power play picked it up and did some good things, like getting to the net and shooting the puck. We had a 5 on 3 that helped. It’s a good job on our part,” said Curran.
Brodie Jamieson, who is tied for 11th place among the AJHL leaders, opened the scoring later in the first period. Halfway through the second, the Grizzlys tied it up, but the Dragons retaliated with four more goals by Stephen Doane, Mitchell Cook, Ryan Bloom, and Cavin Leth.
The Dragons, eager to keep up the pressure in the offensive zone, unfortunately let in two back to back shorthanded goals.
“They got two short handed goals, because we were up going for more goals and taking chances we shouldn’t have taken,” said Curran. “The second short handed goal was behind our net. Wray didn’t move the puck quickly enough, he got hit, and they managed to stuff the puck in the net.”
The Grizzlys added one more goal, but it wasn’t enough. The Dragons hung on for the win.
The game against the Grizzlys was heated.
“Incidents happened behind the net where there were a lot of guys and it got ugly,” said Curran. “I was proud of our guys, they stood up for each other when Olds tried to intimidate us.”
The win breaks a four game losing streak for the Dragons. The win puts the team a point by the Calgary Canucks.
“We came out with the win. It wasn’t the way we wanted, but it got us back on the right track. We have to continue that and hopefully it helps our team stick closer together,” said Curran. “The boys stood behind each other, backed each other, and came out with a good win.”
The Dragons have three games in three nights this weekend, facing the Grande Prairie Storm, Drayton Valley Thunder, and the Whitecourt Wolverines. The Dragaons return to home ice on October 17, where they will play the Olds Grizzlys.
