Sunday was only a slight hiccup in an otherwise huge week for the 100 Mile House Wranglers.
The expansion Junior B hockey team knocked off the division-leading Kamloops Storm in back-to-back games, 3-0 on Oct. 30 and 6-4 on Nov. 1.
The Wranglers went on to beat the Sicamous Eagles 4-3 on Nov. 2 before dropping one in overtime, 3-2 on Nov. 3.
That's seven points in four games for 100 Mile House, which improve to 9-8-0-3, good enough for second place in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League's Doug Birks Division.
Up 2-0 over Sicamous after one period of play at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre on Nov. 3, it looked like the Wranglers were going to reel off four straight wins.
“We took the second period off, is really what it came down to,” says defenceman Braeden St. Louis. “We came out flat and that's what happens.”
Sicamous scored twice in the middle frame. The game was tied 2-2 in overtime when Sicamous scored a power play goal seconds after Donovan Law took a tripping penalty.
“He [the referee] let a lot of stuff go in the third and called that in overtime. Personally, I don't think it's a good call,” St. Louis adds.
“We were feeling good until after this game. We picked up big points this week.”
Connor Sloan, who plays alongside Lane Van de Wetering and Luke Santerno, the Wranglers top line, agrees the team has been impressive of late.
“I think it's definitely a high point [in the season] when you beat the best team in the division twice in a row.”
Van de Wetering scored 100 Mile House's first goal against Sicamous on Nov. 3.
“I think we're getting better with every game we play,” he says.
“We had a couple lulls here and there, but that happens. I think we'll continue doing what we're doing.”
The forwards also talked about the atmosphere at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre.
“It's always nice playing with a full rink every night,” Sloan says. “A lot of teams get half the fans we get.”
Van de Wetering adds there's great energy in the building.
“It's great to have people behind you, backing you the whole time. You come to the rink and you know you're going to have a good crowd.
It gets you right into the game. You really want to win for them, and you really want to win for the team.”
Goalies Nathan Warren and Kristian Stead continue to come up big for the Wranglers. Stead was in net for the 4-3 win over Sicamous on Nov. 2, while Warren started for both Kamloops games, making 37 saves for a shutout win on Oct. 30 and turning away 47 of 51 shots on Nov. 1.
Basically, Warren stood on his head against Kamloops, coach/general manager Doug Rogers says.
The coach adds two keys to winning hockey games this season are great play from the goalies and outworking other teams.
“It's a big step for us,” he says of the recent winning streak. It's the growth we want to see.
"The kids have worked hard to get to this point and deserve a lot of credit. Obviously, we still have a lot of stuff to work on and grow as a team, including playing complete games.”
The Wranglers play in Summerland on Nov. 10, before returning to 100 Mile House on Nov. 11 to host the Chase Heat at 4 p.m.