Drumheller Dragons fans had cause to cheer this weekend as the Dragons were home for a back-to-back homestand. The Dragons came away with three of four possible points on the weekend.
On Saturday, the Dragons hosted the Lloydminster Bobcats for their first meeting of the season.
The Dragons came roaring out of the gate early. During the first period, the Dragons kept up the offensive pressure and generated a few great scoring opportunities. Hunter Mills gave the Dragons a 1-0 lead 5 minutes in with a snap shot over the blocker of Bobcats goalie Sean Kuehn.
Hunter Mills gave the Dragons an early lead in Saturday’s game against the Lloydminster Bobcats, scoring his fifth goal of the season. The Dragons made some headway in the standings over the weekend, earning three points with an overtime loss to the Bobcats and a win over the Canmore Eagles. The Dragons are now in fourth place of the AJHL southern division.
The Dragons kept the Bobcats’ shots to a minimum in the first, but the Bobcats managed to tie things up with 10 seconds left in the period.
From there, they turned the tables on the Dragons, scoring two quick goals late in the second, and a fourth goal 4 minutes into the third.
The Dragons took advantage of a powerplay following a rumble between Shayne Gwinner of the Dragons and Cole Porter. Christopher Rauckman brought the score to 4-2 at 6:15 into the third.
Rauckman struck again on the powerplay ten minutes later and Dakota Zaharichuk tied the game in the dying minute.
The Dragons were charged heading into overtime, but the Bobcats put the game away a mere 40 seconds in to win it 5-4.
The Dragons had little rest, playing again the following afternoon against the Canmore Eagles.
The Dragons got off to a shaky start, allowing two goals by the Eagles in under five minutes. However, the Dragons soon found their game and turned the tide.
Rory Davidson started the Dragons scoring at 8:08 into the first period. Trent Oulette and Davidson followed up with two more goals in the final minute of the first.
Davidson was on fire and put his third goal of the game away late in the second.
The Eagles took advantage of a tripping penalty by the Dragons a minute into the third to make it 4-3. Mitchell Cook struck back with a powerplay goal for the Dragons a few minutes later.
The Dragons and Eagles battled back and forth for the remainder of the game. The Eagles brought the score to 5-4 with just over a minute left in the game. The Dragons held on for the win.
Tempers flared when the buzzer sounded. The Dragons were slapped with a team penalty and Shayne Gwinner was handed a one game suspension.
The games bring the Dragons to fourth in the AJHL southern division, though tied at 12 points with the Eagles.
The Dragons are at home again tonight at 7 p.m. as they take on the Calgary Canucks. They then head on the road to face the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Friday and the Bonnyville Pontiacs the following afternoon.
