The Lac la Hache Tomahawks are 0-4 and last in the East Division to start the Central Interior Hockey League season, following two blowout losses to the Quesnel Kangaroos.
Lac la Hache lost 13-4 at home on Oct. 24 and 15-1 in Quesnel on Oct. 23. If the online scoresheet is correct, the Tomahawks gave up a whopping 80-plus shots in each contest.
Lac la Hache coach Byron Louie admits it's been an early struggle, but he hopes to rebound against West Division teams, Prince Rupert (Nov. 7) and Terrace (Nov. 8), after a week off.
Louie says Quesnel is not a powerhouse team, as the one-sided scores might suggest.
“Our team has had a fairly large turnover in players in the last couple of years, and we just need a little time for them all to bond, which with this upcoming road trip is what I think this team really does need. We have a strong core and a great group of guys, we just need them to hurry up and start to gel.”
The season is a long one, the coach adds.
“And I am sure that come playoff time we will have a team that should make some noise. It is all about the growing pains and how we learn from everything we experience throughout the season.”
Christian Stump and Willie Sellars faced a combined 83 shots between the pipes for the Tomahawks in the 13-4 loss. Robin Gilbert (2), Kevin McNab and Donovan Nicholas scored goals. McNab, Tim Evans, Gilbert, Richard Macdonald, Wilfred Robbins and Ralph Myers picked up assists.
Tim Evans scored the single goal for Lac la Hache in Quesnel, with assists by Kyle Crump and Derek Walters.
Sellars and Stump shared goaltending duties. Sellars saw 55 shots in 34 minutes and Stump saw 30 in 26 minutes.
The Williams Lake Stampeders (3-1) lead the East Division followed by the Kangaroos (2-3-1) and Lac la Hache (0-4). The Smithers Steelheads (4-1) are first in the West Division, followed by Prince Rupert (3-2-1), Kitimat (3-2) and Terrace (2-2).