By Adam Jackson
After losing 5-3 to the Mountainview Colts, head coach Randy Rook says it’s back to the drawing board for his Stampeders, who are 6-10 after the tough loss.
The Colts started the game off with two goals about halfway through the first period from Jay Pieschel and Ryan Thomson. The Stampeders then responded with a goal about a minute later by Jordan Duthie.
After the first period, the Stampeders seemed to lose their discipline.
The second period saw the Stampeders take 18 penalty minutes as well as game misconducts to Brandon Regush and Scott Bowkett. On the bright side for the Stampeders, Klais deWaal was able to score the only goal in the period on a penalty shot about five minutes in, to tie the game at 2-2.
“With three of our top six guys out, we need to start playing with more discipline,” said a frustrated Rook.
The Stampeders were missing Cody Hagg, Ryan Blades and Scott Rarick, a trio that has 15 combined points on the season.
In the third period, the Stampeders took a 3-2 lead around the middle mark on a power play goal by Jordan Duthie. The Colts then responded with two goals from Jason Edwards and one by Cole Widdifield.
The undisciplined penalties by the Stampeders cost them 72 total penalty minutes, which helped the Colts to a three-for-eight power play, compared to the Stampeders’ one-for-seven. The Stampeders were also outshot 51 to 21.
Defenceman Caycee Littlechild added 12 penalty minutes to sit with a total of 109 minutes this season, first in the division.
When asked for his opinion on how his team played, Rook said they played an average game, but need to step it up and come together on their power play.
The Stampeders’ next home game is Dec. 15 at 7:45 p.m. at the Ponoka Culture and Recreation Complex against the winless Rimbey Rock. The last time the two teams met was on Dec. 4, when the Stampeders took the game 8-3.
“We have three games before Christmas — we need to turn it around and get back on the right track,” said Rook, while stressing that his team must skate hard and not glide around on the ice.
“If we play hard, and to our potential, we can beat any team in the league.”