So far, 2013 has not been kind to the Drumheller Dragons. Since returning to from the holidays last week, the team has seen action in three games, none of which they won.
The Dragons continued their road trip in Bonnyville to face the Pontiacs. At their previous meeting, the Dragons broke the Pontiacs, but on Friday the Pontiacs ran wild over a weakened Dragon squad, winning 3-0.
However, the Pontiacs had a little help.
“Unfortunately for us, we had several players who caught this flu bug going around. They ended up playing, but had very little energy over the last two games. We had three or four players playing at about 50 per cent, which didn’t help us very much,” said Brian Curran, head coach and general manager of the Dragons.
Late into the first period, the Pontiacs took a two goal lead and added a third in the opening seconds of the third when the Dragons were shorthanded following a cross-checking penalty by Mitchell Gartner.
The following night, the Dragons were on the road again, this time against the Lloydminster Bobcats.
Unlike the previous evening, the Dragons offence was working again, but the defence had difficulty holding back the Bobcats. In the end, the Dragons lost 6-3.
The Bobcats took the lead early, but by the end of the first period, Bryton Mills, with assists from Brennan Baxandall and Mitchell Gartner, tied the game up.
However, the second period proved disastrous for the Dragons and the Bobcats racked up two more goals for a 3-1 lead.
A tripping penalty by Brad Deagle left the Dragons shorthanded, which resulted in a powerplay goal for the Bobcats. While shorthand again, Mills, off of Baxandall, gave the Dragons their second goal soon after.
Before the game was done, Baxandall gave the Dragons another goal, but it was not enough to bring down the Bobcats, who scored twice more before the game was out.
“We definitely outplayed them in the first period. Then, they scored that second goal and it deflated us for awhile. We didn’t play well until the last six minutes of that period. We got momentum back in the third,” said Curran. “We could have played much better. We’re not doing some of the things we were doing well before the break. We’re aware of them, but at the end of the day we will correct them.”
The Dragons will be looking for their first win of 2013 tonight at home against the Okotoks Oilers at 7:30 p.m.
The team battles to recover.
“It was bad timing. They are still sick, unfortunately,” said Curran. “I don’t like to use it as an excuse, but we had some players whose energy levels weren’t there. Other players played really hard, but we didn’t do what we needed to come out with some wins. We’ve got to find ways to win and play some smarter hockey.”
