AA Lacombe Generals 6 - 0 Blackfalds Wranglers
The likely soon to be named AA Lacombe Generals (pending league approval) were hoping for better luck against the Blackfalds Wranglers after a 4-4 tie on home ice against the Devon Oil Barons led to disappointing 6-5 loss.
“We were up against a good team last night. They definetly have some offence and our d-zone needs some work.” Jordan Koopmans, Generals coach said.
Luckily for the Generals, a four-goal explosion in the second period would decisevely hand the game to them.
The Generals had a bit of an unusual road advantage in this one, playing at the Bentley Arena where the former AAA Bentley Generals formerly called home, claiming three Allan Cup championships along the way.
The first period saw the Gens take a 2-0 despite battling through three Wrangler power plays.
Arseni Oursov would remain hot for the Gens, scoring the first goal of the game and Jared Williams would establish the two-goal lead later in the period when he elected to shoot on two-on-one breakaway, beating Sylvan Lake native and Wrangler netminder Adam Gingras.
“It’s coming together. Our powerplay was looking good tonight. We just need to tighten up some some d-zone and I think we will be in the win column going forward,” Koopmans said
By the end of the 2nd period, the game was all but over and three different Generals had a pair of goals.
“We got settled down a bit. We had some crisp break-outs and our wingers were supporting more which allowed us to catch them. They played an aggressive game and we caught them with some odd man rushes,” Koopmans said.
Jagger Bowles would score both of his in the frame, chasing Gingras out of the net with his second; Williams would break down the left side on the powerplay for his second; and Oursov would score his late in the frame on tic-tac-toe play that would put Lacombe up 6-0 with 20 minutes to play.
“Our powerplay is coming along right now and little things are coming together. We are a couple games in and it should be a good rest of the year,” Bowles said.
The Generals would ride their six-goal lead right to end, with neither team finding away to capitalize in the third.
“We were really dissapointed with that 6-5 loss but we bounced back and the boys got two points tonight,” Bowles said
Travis Yonkman stopped 24 shots for the shutout, with Gingras and and Nicolay stopping 23 and 13 respectively for the Wranglers.
The Generals next game is in Fort Saskatchewan on Nov. 17, before returning home on Nov. 23 to take on Bonnyville. The Wranglers also head to Fort Sask on Nov. 9, followed by game on Nov. 23 in Westlock.
A full NCHL schedule can be found at http://www.northcentralhockeyleague.com/.
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
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