The Airdrie-Cochrane (AC) Avalanche came out of their latest challenge over the weekend all the wiser.
It’s coming down to crunch time for Avs, who sit fifth in the Alberta Minor Midget AAA Hockey League’s South Division, as they are hoping for a late season burst to carry them into prime playoff position in March.
The Cochrane-based team opened their account over the weekend on Jan. 16, as they hosted Leduc Techmation Oil Kings (15-8-4, 4th North Division).
Despite being a closely contested affair, and registering 28 shots on goal, Avs’ powerhouse offence was shutout for the first time this season, as Oil Kings held on for the 2-0 win.
“It wasn’t for lack of opportunity,” Avs head coach Kenton Levesque said of the defeat.
“We just couldn’t get one past their goalie, who played very well.
“In all honesty, we were taken aback by how good Leduc were, and how strong the North Division really is. They weren’t the biggest team, but they were very skillful and quick. It was a great hockey game.”
Avs next faced one of their toughest tests of the season on Jan. 17, as they hosted CBHA Rangers (17-2-6, 2nd South Division). The last time these two teams met, Rangers stomped Avs 10-1, and the home side was more than fired up for a little payback.
The home team took the lead less than four minutes into the opening period through forward Eric Van Tetering (Austin Wong, Ryan Ries assisting), before Rangers leveled things up going into the second period.
Rangers took a 2-1 lead early on in the second, but this time it was Avs’ turn to bounce back as Keenan McElroy – Kyle Lappin and Wong (his second) grabbing helpers – clawed one back to make it 2-2.
The visitors scored their third within the first minute of the final period, but Van Tetering (Ries picking up another assist) nabbed his second of the game with 1:48 on the clock to make it 3-3, and salvage a point for Avs.
“It was a great improvement from the last game when we played them,” Levesque said.
“They’re probably the best team in our division. It was an awesome game, quick and heavy hitting, with both teams getting a bunch of penalties. It was a spirited affair.”
Avs next play five games on the road, starting with NWCAA Stampeders (9-10-8, 8th South Division) on Jan. 23.
Levesque is hoping that his team can close the points gap between them and the top four teams in their division in the final run-up to the playoffs.
“We just need to keep playing the same way, whoever our opponent is,” he said.
“We have to go in with the same mindset for these next five games as we have for the last few, and hopefully they’ll go in our favour. We’re going to take it one game at a time, and try to push for second or third in our division by the end of the season.”
