Bow Valley Midget AA Timberwolves have gone from the darkness to the light in the space of a single weekend. After a previous weekend where the side lost back-to-back games, T-wolves (4-12-3, 7th North Division) opened their account on Dec.
Bow Valley Midget AA Timberwolves have gone from the darkness to the light in the space of a single weekend.
After a previous weekend where the side lost back-to-back games, T-wolves (4-12-3, 7th North Division) opened their account on Dec. 4 as they travelled to Olds to face the Grizzlys (8-5-4, 5th North Division).
Despite opening the scoring through Dylan Rieberer (Christian Dees and Jean-Pascal Leclerc assisting), it was not to be as the Cochrane-based side fell 5-1 to a team who had not lost a game in their previous four.
The road trip continued on Dec. 5 as T-wolves took on Okotoks Oilers Green (6-8-1, 4th South Division). Spencer Chapman (two), Bradley Willms, and Christian Dees got on the scoreboard as T-wolves broke their four game losing streak, winning 4-3.
Thane Kondrat, Mattais Twoyoungmen, Dawson Javorsky (two), Willms, and Chapman all contributed assists.
The team's next encounter was against Wheatland Chiefs (9-5-2, 1st South Division), one of the top teams in the league who had not lost a game in their last four.
Despite going down 2-0, T-wolves battled back and scored four straight through Chapman, Aaron Karaja, and Javorsky (two), to take a 4-2 lead going into the third.
Michael Hodges (two), Chapman (two), and Twoyoungman, all had helpers.
Heartbreakingly for T-wolves, Chiefs battled back, with the final score ending 4-4.
Despite the third period letdown, it was a testament to the Cochrane team that they picked up a draw against one of the toughest opponents they will likely face all season.
“Things are finally starting to click, ” said Erik Krigel, T-wolves head coach.
“The boys are continuing to learn. It was a good weekend.
“We've made some tweaks here and there, and changed things up a bit as coaches. Now the boys are finding it easier to win. ”
A weekend like this can do nothing but help the team's confidence going forward, what is the temperature like in the dressing room?
“The boys have a positive attitude, ” Krigel said.
“The mood in the dressing room is amazing right now, the boys have gelled a lot from where they were a month ago. ”
Why does Krigel think they players are finally starting to gell at this point in the season?
“Well, Rome wasn't built in a day, ” he laughed.
Not getting enough shots on goal and taking stupid penalties has been a constant thorn in his team's side, but it seems that Krigel's players are finally listening to the principles that have been laid out by him and his coaching staff.
“We are a lot more disciplined now that we once were, ” he said.
“I've been calling players out. Before, I was telling them to take more shots on goal and less penalties, which is something that we have been doing.
“Last week I called out the goalies and told them that we needed some big saves now and then to keep us in games, and both of them stepped up this weekend. They played phenomenal, especially against (Chiefs) where we faced 57 shots. ”
T-wolves next play two game back-to-back: Red Deer Indy (10-4-2, 4th North Division) on Dec. 11 at Collicutt Centre Arena (Puck-drop is 8:30 p.m.), and CNHA Blazers on Dec. 12 at Cochrane Arena (Puck-drop is 3 p.m.).
