Drumheller Dragons | DrumhellerMail

Dragons face tough opponents on road

   The Drumheller Dragons had a challenging week on the road, but still managed to bring home one win.
   The Dragons’ trip to face northern teams began on Friday, October 20 with the Drayton Valley Thunder.
   After a scoreless first period, Braydon Nicholetts scored his second of the season just a minute into the second period. The Thunder tied up the game until Nicholetts scored his third of the year to put the Dragons up 2-1 after two.
   Tyson Scott scored on the powerplay and the Kaden Hanas scored on the empty net as the Dragons won 4-1.
   On Saturday night, the team was in Grande Prairie to play the Storm. Again, the first period was scoreless, but then Nicholas Sutter scored on the powerplay midway through the second to put the Dragons up 1-0.
   The Storm dominated the third period with two powerplay goals and then an empty netter to win 3-1.
   The Dragons finished their trip Sunday afternoon taking on the Whitecourt Wolverines, the second place team in the Viterra AJHL North.
   This time The Wolverines opened the scoring and after two periods were up 3-0. Joren Patenaude scored in the third to put the Dragons on the scoreboard. This was followed about a minute later when Tyler Kreklewich found the net to make the score 3-2. Whitecourt put it out of reach with seven minutes left, to make it a 4-2 final.
   This drops the Dragons to third place in the south a just behind the Brooks Bandits. The two teams will meet this Friday, October 27 at the Drumheller Memorial Arena.

Dragons add defenseman

Nick Sutter

The Drumheller Dragons have beefed up their defense with the addition of 20-year-old defenseman Nicholas Sutter.
The Dragons picked up the 6’ 2” defenseman from the Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL in a trade for future considerations.
   “We are excited to bring a veteran player with the experience Nicholas has to the program,” said Drumheller Dragons assistant coach Brayden Klimosko. “He will be a player we can rely on in all situations who will bring stability, intensity, and composure to our back end. We have been looking for an experienced left shot defenseman and we are confident we have found our guy.”
   Originally from Spruce Grove, Sutter spent two seasons with the Olds Grizzlys and the Drayton Valley Thunder before heading to Prince George.
   In 88 games, Sutter scored 8 goals and racked up 20 assists.
    His first game as a Dragon was on Saturday, October 7, versus Olds Grizzlys at home.

Dragons drop Grizzlys in OT

   Last week the Dragons were in two very different games with two positive outcomes as they completed a two-game series sweep versus the Olds Grizzlys.
   Last week “The Mail” reported of the 8-2 come from behind drubbing given to the Grizzlys by the Dragons, including three powerplay goals.
   “I think we have proven 10 games into the season that our special teams have been consistent and strong,” said coach Kevin Hasselberg. “I know if I were preparing to play against our team, it would be something that I would pay attention to closely.”
   It was a much different game last Saturday night when Olds came back to play.
   “In the second game they had some key pieces back in the lineup,” said Hasselberg.
   “They got their starting goaltender and their captain back in the lineup. They made a couple transactions since then including adding a late Western Hockey League release, so they had a much different look to their team.”
     Just 3:11 into the game, Dawson Bruneski scored unassisted to put the Dragons up 1-0, and then just over halfway through the second, Brett Edwards scored one powerplay goal to end the second 2-0.
In the third period, Joren Patenaude put the Dragons up 3-0 shorthanded.
    “I thought it was a dangerous game that we had complete control of, outshooting them and out-chancing them badly, but it was one of those games that if they got one opportunity they would seize it, and they did,” said Hasselberg.
   The Grizzlys rattled off three straight goals in 10 minutes, tying the game and forcing overtime.
   With only 38 seconds left in the first overtime period, Edwards scored the winner assisted by Brady Risk.
   “Hats off to our guys for not losing our composure and coming out with two points,” said Hasselberg.
   The Dragons outshot the    Grizzlys 47-21. Hasselberg credits a strong performance by Grizzlys’ goalie Andrew Henderson.
   “He was sharp against us, he has had some inconsistencies but he is definitely a difference maker for that hockey team. When he is in the line-up they play better,” said Hasselberg.
   Coach Hasselberg says he likes how this team is showing continuous growth.
   “That is one thing about our hockey team, they do value the experiences they have had and each one has given us a little bit more to build from and make our team better for it,” said Hasselberg.

Update: The Dragons played the Calgary Canucks on Tuesday, October 10 and fell 4-2. Brody Medeiros and Markus Boguslavsky scored for the Dragons.

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