Getting Back To Basics
The Drumheller Dragons won last night on home ice against the Calgary Canucks who had defeated the Dragons twice prior.
Drumheller Coach Brian Curran has been preaching for the last several weeks about getting back to the basic fundamentals of hockey-compete, battle and execution- and it seems the players are starting to do just that. The home town crowd of over 500 was treated to what they have watched for the last few years, a team that just simply works hard and pressures their opponents into mistakes. The result a 4-1 victory.
The Dragons started slow in the first period but after 5 minutes their intensity increased, with the return of two key veterans (Chynoweth and Duncan) the team played with a renewed energy and confidence. Tye Mappin would open the scoring in the first but it would take the Canucks less than 2 minutes to tie the game, and if not for the Canucks goalie the score may have been much more. The first period would end 1-1.
Second period action would see the Dragons come out flying and for the first 15 minutes Drumheller controlled the puck and would score three goals. Tye Mappin his second of the game, Ryan Chynoweth and Connor Duncan would also score to make it 4-1. The Dragons did however give up 3 two-on-ones, allowing the Canucks to potentially get back into the game to the visible concern of Curran however Xavier Burghardt would be up to the challenge and would keep the score at bay.
In the third period the Canucks came out strong and would pressure the Dragons into a couple of penalties but the penalty kill would do a great job and the game would end in a 4-1 win for Drumheller in front of a very loud crowd.
Coach Curran, ” We are starting to play more like the way I believed this team could play and that is very good sign that we are starting to understand as a team that if you just understand the basic fundamentals of this game and play together and with passion these boys will accomplish their goals and our team goals.”
Next Game: Puck drops tonight at 7:00pm in Olds as the Drumheller Dragons face off against the Old Grizzlys.
