The momentum continues to build for the Drumheller Dragons.
On Tuesday, the boys in orange headed to the den of the Olds Grizzlys and came away with a decisive 6-2 victory.
The Dragons power play was on fire and the deciding factor of the game.
“We took advantage of our opportunities, we got some lucky bounces, and had some guys pay the price in front of the net. It wasn’t anything that was really fancy. We got traffic in front of the net. It’s tough for goalies to stop pucks they can’t see,” said Brian Curran, head coach and general manager of the Dragons.
No sooner had the game started when Grizzly Dylan Hubbs started a fight with Dragon Colton Vannucci. Hubb was called for fighting as well as instigating, giving the Dragons a power play a mere 16 seconds into the game.
Bryton Mills took advantage for the Dragons, scoring only seconds later.
The Grizzlys tied the game up just over two minutes later, but when the second period started, the Dragons dominated thanks to the Grizzlys fondness for the penalty box.
From 7:56 into the second period to 11:21, the Grizzlys were slapped with a string of penalties. The Dragons capitalized on all three chances, with two more goals from Mills and one from Mitchell Gartner.
The Dragons only goal not scored while on the power play came at 13:38 into the second by Cavin Leth.
Before the game was through, the Grizzlys scored once more and Joey Raats gave the Dragons their sixth goal of the night.
Many of the Dragons boosted their point totals for the season. Mills, got his first hat trick of the season and was named the star of the game for the Dragons. Mitchell Gartner put up a goal and two assists. Brennan Baxandall and Ryan Bloom both earned three assists during the game.
The Dragons power play had been consistently strong over the past two months, but seemed to run out of steam last week when they lost three in a row.
“I want us to work on our consistency. There were three games there where we didn’t score any power play goals. The opportunities were there,” said Curran. “But, I would say for the last seven weeks, our power play has been really consistent and that’s what you need.”
The Dragons also have settled on who will be their two goalies. Two weeks ago, the decision was made to let Christopher Wray go and have Braden Stone and Adam Beukeboom in net.
“He’s [Wray] a phenomenal kid. It was a very tough decision,” said Curran. “They [Stone and Beukeboom] have done great so far and we hope they continue to play consistent and strong.”
The win gives the team a 17-14-2 record for 36 points, which leaves the Dragons in fourth place of the AJHL southern division.
The Dragons remain of the road this weekend and will be taking on the AJHL’s top team, the Brooks Bandits, tonight. The Bandits have only been dealt one loss this season and are currently in the midst of an 11 game winning streak.
On Saturday, the Dragons will then head to Okotoks to face the Oilers, who are four points ahead of the Dragons.
“I really want to see us play our best game for all 60 minutes and show them what we’re capable of,” said Curran.
Bryton Mills (right) lead the charged against the Olds Grizzlys on Tuesday in the Dragons 6-2 win. Mills got his first hat trick of the season, which brings his point total this season to eight. The Dragons are currently in fourth place in the AJHL southern division and will be looking to add more wins this weekend on the road against the Brooks Bandits and Okotoks Oilers.
