The 100 Mile House Wranglers coach was serious about the things he addressed at practice following a less than stellar three-game road trip, primarily the local club's propensity for bad penalties and their lack of focus early in a new season.
“I'm zero impressed with our mental toughness,” says Dale Hladun. “If it doesn't change, then I'll make changes. There might be some changes on our roster real quick.”
The 100 Mile House Wranglers dropped two of three games in the Kootenays last weekend, with upcoming games in Chase against the Heat on Oct. 2 and in 100 Mile House against the Golden Rockets on Oct. 3.
Of the 12 goals scored against 100 Mile on the road trip, nine were on the power play. The team's penalty kill wasn't very good and they took too many “silly penalties” behind the play, says Hladun, who adds “a good chunk” of the blame rests with him too.
On a positive note, Hladun highlighted the play of Wranglers rookies Kolby Page, Alex Meeker, Kyle Lindstrom, and Alex Hanson, and that of goalie Zane Steeves – “a bright light” on the road trip.
“He stood on his head. He was a big reason we won in Fernie. He was a warrior for us all weekend.”
The Columbia Valley Rockies beat 100 Mile House 5-1 on Sept. 27. 100 Mile beat Fernie 3-2 on Sept. 26. Creston Valley beat 100 Mile 5-0 on Sept. 25.
The Rockies scored four unanswered goals before Ryan Friesen, from Nick McCabe and Justin Bond, found the back of the net in the second period for 100 Mile. Friesen took star of the game for the Wranglers.
Brady Ward scored the game-winner in overtime against the Ghostriders in Fernie. 100 Mile House saw goals by Liam Cumberbirch, from Cole Zimmerman and Ward, and Alex Hanson. Ward took star of the game honours and Steeves stopped 44 of 46 shots.
Three power play goals in the first period put the Creston Valley Thunder Cats on top early when 100 Mile House visited in the first game of the road trip. The Thunder Cats added two goals in the second period for the 5-0 shut out win. Jaydon Gilding won star of the game for the Wranglers.
Tyler Garcia was traded to the Nelson Leafs. The 20 year-old forward from Alaska was playing in his second season in 100 Mile.