The adversity keeps coming for the Lacombe Generals, with the latest being a 5-0 loss to the Innisfail Eagles.
The loss, which was Lacombe’s third in a row, was predicated on a big second period effort from the Eagles.
“We were okay in the first and I felt like we were okay about half way through the game, then the powerplays came and we ended up chasing the game again with a short bench,” Coach Sean Robertson said. “That is not something we want to make a habit of but we are right now.”
The weather was atrocious heading into the game, but that did not play a factor in the loss according to Robertson.
“We had a couple illnesses, we had the flu bug going around, we had guys working and it is Christmas season so there was a few Christmas parties. It is just this time of year and it has been that way for the last 10 years for us,” he said.
“We will have to work through it. There is nothing we can do about it right now other than to get better and to learn from it.”
The Generals now look east to Saskatchewan, where they will look to get back on track this weekend with two road games against the Rosetown Red Wings. Robertson said the road trip could be an opportunity for his guys to get back some winning chemistry.
“It is important for us to get out on the road with numbers. We don’t want to be out there with 12 guys so we are hoping be out there with a good lineup to compete,” he said.
READ ALSO:
- Lacombe Generals looking to get back on track after dropping two in a row
- Lacombe Generals battle back but ultimately fall 5-4 to Rosetown
With four games in total remaining before the holiday break, Robertson is hoping his team can build some consistency
“I want to see us get a 60 minute effort in. Given that, our start has to be good and we have to stay with it. We need to be short-sighted and take it battle to battle and shift to shift,” he said, adding his guys need to put the last three losses behind them.
“Lets take a step forward here and learn from what we have done and correct it,” he said.
With the Generals increasingly playing with a short bench, Robertson is hoping they have fresh legs coming after the break.
“We will have some guys available after Christmas,” he said. “We have been limping here the last two years before Christmas with not great turnouts. After Christmas, I don’t expect we will have any issues.
“I hope we can have the opportunity for guys to earn their ice time rather than just going out to play because we have no other options.”
Despite a lack of options, Robertson and his squad have been kept afloat by the Generals core veterans including Jesse Todd, Kyle Stroh, Brennan Evans, Doug Jessey and Ian Barteaux.
“They know what the message is and I am glad I have those guys to relay the message,” he said.
After their games in Rosetown, the Generals return to Lacombe to play Stony Plain on Dec. 14th and Innisfail on Dec. 16th.
“Anytime you go for a break, you want to end on the right foot. Those games will be big for us but I guarantee nobody in our room is thinking about those games. They are looking forward to puck drop on Saturday night in Rosetown,” Robertson said.
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter