Ponoka’s representatives in the Junior Heritage League lost both of their games last weekend but head coach Mark Dobler said his confidence in his team remained intact.
Stampeders lost to Airdrie Thunder 4-1 on Friday Jan. 3 and Dobler said it was the first game after the Christmas/New Year break and his players were not totally concentrated on their game.
On Saturday, Jan. 4, the local boys hosted Mountainview Colts and, after a sluggish first period, they showed some signs of reviving the magic touch that allowed them to go head to head with the league’s top teams before the Christmas break.
Dobler agreed that his players were not themselves in the first period but said they had focused more on the game in the second and third periods.
Stampeders could not score until the middle of the second period, but once they did through Kane Welk, they were fired-up and intensified pressure on the Colts’ net.
In the third period, Chandler Knibb raised the stakes by keeping the Stampeders in the game and Welk tied the game at 3-3 as the clock ticked towards the last 10 minutes of the game.
But Colts responded in kind swiftly and took the lead again and when coach Dobler sidelined the goalie in the hope of equalizing in the last minute, Clots sent the puck into the empty net twice sealing the score at 6-3.
“Obviously we would like to have a few wins, but the team is coming along really well, we have changed the culture and there is much more discipline than in the past, I am happy now,“ said Dobler.
Stampeders will next host Coaldale on Saturday, Jan. 11 and travel to Okotoks on Sunday.