While sporting the retro Miners jerseys, the Dragons took two losses at home over the weekend against Okotoks and Brooks.
Losing 6-2 Friday night against the Oilers and 3-2 against Brooks Saturday, the team has dropped to seventh in the southern AJHL division.
The Okotoks Oilers quickly packed on the points, notching four goals before Drumheller was able to make their second late in the second shift. Okotoks went on to score two more in the third.
Drumheller was heavily outshot 44-20 throughout the course of the game.
The Dragons were down three points heading into the third period against Brooks Saturday, before quickly gaining momentum with two goals within two minutes, making it 3-2.
“I thought we were going to win, there was a real feeling in the room with excitement and energy to accomplish something in that period,” said head coach Dan Price.
“The pressure we were able to sustain in the rest of the third was a real welcome change, something we hadn’t done in the previous five periods.”
The third period Saturday night was intense, with the Dragons outshooting Brooks in a final chance to end their losing streak.
“It was disappointing, but a real lesson. I know the guys talked after, saying they can’t wait until the third period to bring that kind of energy.”
Brooks held a strong lead throughout the first two periods, outshooting Drumheller until valley boy Dylan Schellenberg opened up the scoring within 33 seconds of stepping on the ice for their third shift.
Their second point was notched by Ryan Bloom shortly after.
Defensively, the Dragons controlled their zone well, emptying the puck with every drive Brooks made in the second half of the game.
“We’ve got a very versatile group that way, guys who can play offensively and defensively,” said Price. “It’s just getting over that hump offensively, which I can feel coming.”
The Dragons have a hefty schedule in the coming week: they host the Canmore Eagles Wednesday night, are in Drayton Valley on Thursday, back at home against the Calgary Canucks Saturday, and have a road game in Okotoks on Sunday.
The team will then have a long break before hosting the Camrose Kodiaks on Friday, November 19.
