The 100 Mile House Wranglers’ home-ice losing streak continues following another two defeats.
This weekend the Wranglers faced off against the Princeton Posse Friday and the Revelstoke Grizzlies Saturday. The Wranglers put up a valiant fight against the Posse, losing 3-1, while they collapsed under pressure from the Grizzlies losing 7-1.
The Wranglers have won only four games so far this season and lost 11, with no home victories. Penalties and a seeming lack of team cohesion have dogged the team from the start, with head coach Dale Hladun bringing in several new players in an attempt to right the ship.
“I’m actually shocked our record is what it is. We have good talent this year but we’ve had a uniqueness of injuries,” Hladun said. “It was like we had a Jack’O’Lantern’s smile with our lineup, a hole here and a hole there.”
Hladun remarked wryly he understands what the Edmonton Oilers are going through this season.
“There is a will. The boys are certainly putting in an effort and we have moments in the game where we can take charge but we are still an inexperienced team,” Hladun said. “We have to learn from mistakes and it’s taking us a little while to get over the hump.”
Against the Posse, the Wranglers were slow to start with their opponents taking an early lead in the first period scoring first one and then a second goal on a powerplay. The Wranglers held them in check for most of the second period but the Posse were able to increase their lead by one near the period’s end.
Throughout the final period, the Wranglers held on grimly in what became an intense and physical game. Wrangler forward Kaden Ernst finally scored a goal late in the game but the team was unable to capitalize on any momentum.
Hladun said Princeton is one of the top teams in the league right now and he thought his team did a good job holding them in check.
When they faced the Grizzlies on Saturday another poor first period led to a two-point lead. During the second period, the Wranglers seemed to tighten up their game taking several penalties but also netting a powerplay goal thanks to Jackson Altwasser. The Grizzlies responded with seconds to go in the period with a goal of their own.
As the third period began the Grizzlies widened their lead again and the Wranglers’ defense seemingly fell apart with a fifth, sixth and seventh goal all passing by goalie Ryder Gregga, who faced 45 shots on net throughout the game. It was a somber team that skated off the ice following this latest loss.
“I don’t feel the score represented the effort of the kids. We lost 7-1 but in the second period the boys pushed pretty hard and I thought we did a good job against them but then they pulled away,” Hladun said.
While their loss against the Grizzlies’ was hard to take, Hladun said he feels it has made his players dig deeper to break the losing streak. In the coming weeks, he said they need to build up their power play, improve their defensive zone coverage and come up with a system that works for the team. Hladun said finding a way to guide and focus their desire to win will be what he focuses on in the coming weeks.
“We’re still in the hunt to make playoffs. We’re only two points back from a spot. Our goal is to get to the dance this year and there is light at the end of this tunnel,” Hladun said. “They have a desire to win, so that spirit is still there.”
The Wranglers return to home ice this Remembrance Day to face the Kelowna Chiefs at 7 p.m.
