Cold Lake Ice lose to Killiam at Minor Hockey Night

Ice drop 6-3 decision to Wheat Kings

The Cold Lake Jr B Ice welcomed the community and minor hockey kids to Imperial Oil Place Saturday for minor hockey night. Despite having a great crowd, the Ice dropped two points to the Killiam Wheat Kings. Head Coach for the Ice, Scott Hood says it’s important for the club to have the support of the community.

“A lot of our kids came through the minor hockey system, it’s a great system. It’s nice to honour them,” The Ice granted free admission to anyone wearing a minor hockey jersey. “It’s great to get the kids involved in the game and give them a chance to watch some local players.”

Carter Ortman of the Killiam Wheat Kings was the sole scorer in the first period. Defenseman Mackenzie Zarowny says the defense needed to be in the game a little more during the first 20 minutes. “The defenseman need to be moving their feet a little more. We need to be moving the puck, a hell of a lot, faster. We’re not moving the puck efficiently and we’re getting blown out. We’re losing battles in the corners and we’re getting beat.”

Advice fell on deaf ears, as the Ice came out in the second and allowed two back-to-back goals from the Wheat Kings, Clay Lang and Ashton Cookson to make it a 3-0 game. Brody Rosychuk took charge at that point, answering back for both goals and putting in two before the close of the second. “We gotta play better in our defensive zone,” said Rosychuk following the second. “They have really strong fore-checking, we have to take the front of the net away from them, play better in the defensive zone and the rest will take care of itself.”

The final 20 minutes of play opened with back-to-back goals from Killiam’s Braydon Davis to advance to Wheat Kings 5-2 over the Ice.  Brae Howatt took a feed from Tyson Logan to close the gap a little for the Ice at 15:17 in the third; but it wasn’t enough to motivate the club to that win. Killiam’s Lang put in his second goal of the evening past Ice’s netminder, Nathan Dancy, with only seconds left in the game, to finish it 6-3 for the visiting club.

Coach Hood says the team won’t be changing up their practice routine; but focusing on the mental element of the game. “Avoiding the mental mistakes. Every mistake we made found the back of the net and that’s cost us.” Coach Hood says there’s a pattern developing that he wants to put an end to, “if you look at our last three games, against Killiam, Wainwright and St. Paul, we’re out shot 15-0 before we even start playing the game. That’s not going to win ya anything.”

The Ice are on the road Friday night to take on the St. Paul Canadiens at the Clancy Ricahrd Arena for the Battle of the Lakeland.