Huskies GM optimistic despite recent losses
The Fort St. John Huskies returned from the road last weekend with four wins under their belts, and fans flocked to the North Peace Arena to check out the action at the team’s first two home games of the season.
Saturday’s game, against the Grande Prairie Wheat Kings, started strong with the Huskies keeping the pressure on throughout the first period, which ended with no goals scored. However, the Wheat Kings racked up penalties for slashing, cross-checking, and unsportsmanlike conduct.
Barely three minutes into the second period, the Wheat Kings’ #19 Jaydon Gordey broke through Huskies’ goalie Daniel Sturgeon’s defenses with the first goal of the game. Ten minutes of action later, the Huskies answered with their own goal by #19 MacCoy Willms, assisted by #7 Chase London.
The game remained tied throughout the third period, broken only when the Wheat Kings’ #10 Keenan Moberley scored during overtime, bringing the final score to 2-1 for the Wheat Kings.
Sunday afternoon’s game against the La Crete Lumber Barons started out well for the Huskies, with #7 Chase London, assisted by #9 Raymond Dick, scoring less than halfway through the first period. The Lumber Barons answered with their own goal from #20 Jonah Cardinal a few minutes later. Bringing the score to 1-1 at the end of the first period.
Both teams were determined to break the tie, resulting in a lot of penalties, particularly during the third period.
Unfortunately for the Huskies, a win was not in the cards, and the Lumber Barons slipped four more goals past Huskies’ goalie Jackson Powers, to finish the game 5-1 for La Crete.
Huskies’ General Manager Jeremy Clothier said that last weekend was a tough one, especially being the home opener. “It would’ve been nice to pick up a couple of wins.”
“We have good systems, good tactics, great players, we just need to execute and pay a little more attention to the details.”
Heading into this weekend, with two more games at home, Clothier is feeling optimistic.
“We had a couple of good practices this week, with some teachable moments from last weekend,” he said. “I think that you will see a more focussed group this weekend, and hopefully that gets us back on the right path.”
Friday night the Huskies face off against the North Peace Navigators, followed by the Sexsmith Vipers on Saturday night. Both games start at 8 p.m. at the North Peace Arena.