The Drumheller Dragons are making a push to the top of the AJHL Southern Division standings.
Over the weekend, the Dragons had two games and came away with three points.
First, on Friday, November 8, they travelled to Okotoks to face the Oilers. The Dragons were only several points behind the Oilers prior to the game and were hoping to close the gap.
A dominating performance by the Dragons ensured a 4-1 victory.
Things looked grim for the Dragons early on when they were down by a man 3:40 into the first period. However, nothing sets the tone of a game like a short-handed goal.
Dakota Zaharichuk off a pass from Trent Ouellette put the momemtum squarely with the Dragons when he scored short-handed 4:28 into the first period.
At 10:05, Hunter Mills scored the Dragons second short-handed goal of the night.
The Oilers kept up the pressure, however, and managed to get the puck past Adam Beukeboom for their only goal of the night.
The Dragons added to their lead in the second and third periods with goals by Sam Williams and Alex Bechtold.
The following night, the Dragons were back at home, this time to face the Whitecourt Wolverines, who the Dragons bested the weekend before.
The game started off with the Dragons in control, Mills gave the Dragons a 1-0 lead less than a minute into the first period. The goal was Mills’ tenth of the season.
From there, the Wolverines pushed back and the two were locked in some back-and-forth hockey for the next few minutes.
Halfway through the period, Ouellette charged deep in the Wolverines’ zone and fought off defenders behind the net. Eventually he managed to get to the point and snap the puck into the back of the net for the Dragons’ second goal.
The Wolverines weren’t beaten yet and they scored a goal of their own soon after. When they came out after the intermission, they kept up the pressure and tied things up halfway through the second period.
Despite a flurry of shots in the third, the Dragons couldn’t regain the lead and the game had to be settled in overtime.
The Dragons couldn’t get a shot off during overtime and after almost four minutes of hard fought hockey, the Wolverines came away with a goal and the win.
The two games give the Dragons 27 points, one behind the Oilers, in the standings. They are also in striking distance of the Brooks Bandits, who have 31 points.
The Dragons have a chance to make some headway on Friday when they host the Bandits at 7 p.m. at the Drumheller Memorial Arena. They then head to Olds the following night.
Trent Ouellette fights off a Wolverine behind the net at the Dragons game on Saturday night. Ouellette would eventually get out in front and scored the Dragons’ second goal of the night. The Dragons earned three points over the weekend and are currently in third place of the AJHL Southern Division and are only one point behind the second place Okotoks Oilers.
