The Drumheller Dragons had a week between games and were chomping at the bit on Saturday against the Calgary Mustangs.
The action started early in this hockey game. Drumheller got on the board only 34 seconds into the game as Bradley Stonnell scored his second of the year from Andrew Kartusch and Nate Keeley. Drumheller added to their lead midway through the first as Brett Edwards scored short-handed from Tyler Kreklewich to make it 2-0. The Dragons made it 3-0 only 40 seconds later as Tyson Scott came out of the penalty box and scored on the breakaway assisted by Kaden Hanas. Drumheller wasn't finished as Brett Edwards scored his second of the game and 18th of the year from affiliate Eric Martin and Tyler Kreklewich. The Mustangs got one back at 13:16 when Chase Miller scored to make it 4-1 Drumheller. The Dragons added one more on a great shot top shelf by Alex Rotundo with an assist from Bradley Stonnell. Drumheller lead 5-1 after the first and that would spell the end of the game for Calgary goaltender Ashton Abel.
The Dragons continued to pile on the goals in the second. Dawson Bruneski scored his fifth on the year from Brett Wieschorster at 4:19 on an explosive end to end rush. Drumheller added one more as Clay Keeley scored his first on the season from Tyson Scott. Drumheller lead 7-1 after two and was out shooting Calgary 30-12.
In the third, Jordan Taupert streaked into the Mustang zone short-handed and potted his 19th on the year assisted by Alex Rotundo and Dawson Bruneski at 4:03. Just as the Calgary power play ended, they ended up getting one past goaltender Dane Dow. Tanner Klassen scored to make it 8-2 Drumheller. Midway through the third, Calgary got one more back as Nathan Walker scored to make it 8-3. Things got a little feisty in the second half of the third as there was a good fight between Kaden Hanas and Ayden Roche-Setoguchi after Roche-Setoguchi cross checked a Drumheller player. The bad blood between these two teams should carry on tomorrow as these two teams meet at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary.
Shots on Goal
Calgary – 21
Drumheller – 39
Power Play
Calgary – 0/7
Drumheller – 0/7
Viterra Game Stars
Calgary – Chase Miller
Drumheller – Brett Edwards
The weekend battle between the Drumheller Dragons and the Calgary Mustangs continued in Calgary on Sunday afternoon.
This game was a rescheduled game from December. The original game was postponed due to the players of both teams writing their SAT exams. It worked out well with the schedule as the change of dates created a home and home series between the two teams. The Dragons dominated the Mustangs on Saturday night in Drumheller and it continued in Calgary on Sunday.
In the first period, Drumheller out played Calgary and scored their first goal at 7:30 when Alex Rotundo scored a beautiful goal just under the cross bar. It was his ninth of the year from Jordan Taupert and Andrew Kartusch. With 6:16 left in the first, the Dragons made it 2-0. The score sheet states the goal was scored by Andrew Kartusch but the goal was scored from a point shot by Alex Rotundo, his second of the period, from Jordan Taupert and Andrew Kartusch. Three minutes later, Derrick Budz scored from Kaden Hanas and Carson Kurylo to make it 3-0 Drumheller. Alex Rotundo added another with 58 seconds left in the period from Tyson Scott and Eric Martin. Drumheller lead 4-0 after the first with four goals on seven shots. That would spell the end of Calgary goaltender Joey May's afternoon as the Mustangs would change goalies to start the second for the second straight game.
Drumheller continued their domination in the second as Dragons' captain, Andrew Kartusch, scored from Derrick Budz and Bradley Stonnell to make it 5-0 Drumheller. Calgary got on the board midway through the period on a goal that Dragons goalie Hunter Virostek would like to have back as the shot from Tyler Lents fooled Virostek on his glove hand side to make it 5-1 Drumheller. Calgary had a five on three power play for over a minute and a half in the last half of the period but could not score.
In the third, things got a bit rougher out there as Calgary tried to play a bit more physical but still could not get anything past Hunter Virostek. Their was a big hit by Kaden Hanas deep in the Calgary zone which would end up being called as a five minute major for boarding. During the Calgary power play Drumheller received another penalty to give the Mustangs their second five on three power play of the game and they still could not score. Final score was Drumheller 5 Calgary 1. Calgary out shot Drumheller 39-23 in the hockey game.
Shots on Goal
Calgary – 39
Drumheller – 23
Power Play
Calgary – 0/11
Drumheller – 0/6
Hardest Working Dragon – Brady Risk
Three Stars
Alex Rotundo (DRU)
Andrew Kartusch (DRU)
Derrick Budz (DRU)
Next action for your Dragons is at home on Friday night as they square off against the Whitecourt Wolverines for the Wolverines only visit to the Memorial Arena this season. Game time is 7:30p.m.
Jason Blanke
Morning Show Host – 99.5 DRUM FM
Office: 403.823.9936
www.DrumhellerOnline.com