A faced-paced game against the Strathcona Wheat Kings resulted in a loss for Stampeders, despite a heady effort from the Ponoka players.
Assistant coach Blair Grant says the 7-1 loss at the Sunday, Oct. 26 game came from the boys’ straying from the game plan.
“I thought we had a very good first 10 minutes of the first period. The boys stuck to our system,” said Grant.
“It seems like our team, if we stay to our abilities, we can compete to any team,” he added. However, when the players lose their grip of the game plan, it costs them with points for the opposing team.
For the Stampeders, the game did not fare better in the second period. “It was probably the weakest of the three,” said Grant.
“I thought the third period . . . probably was a fairly even period,” he added.
Defensive errors were made but Stampeders goalie Eli Falls kept up well with the assault of shots he faced.
Along with drifting from the game plan, Grant feels teamwork was also lacking. “I think that they get a mentality that they have to do it themselves. It’s our job as coaches to get them focused again.”
“Our whole success lies on our speed, our ability to forecheck and our ability to play as a team,” he added.
While the game was aggressive and penalties were enforced, Grant was unconcerned and says the team averages nine to 10 penalties per game. “I thought they did very well holding their tempers.”
“I have to credit Strathcona, they were a very offensive team,” he added.