The Drumheller Dragons played the Okotoks Oilers over the long weekend; games at home on Saturday evening and again on Family Day in Okotoks Monday afternoon.
As the Dragons injury list keeps growing, pulling key players out of the line up with anywhere from 5-7 boys on the mend the team is desperately looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately by the end of the weekend another 2 more were added to the list as Slayter Dykema and Clint Filbrandt went down Monday in Okotoks raising the total to 8 regular players injured and 1 player suspended until Sunday.
The Dragons have continued to bring in their affiliates to help them out and these young players are stepping up, Joren Patenaude would score his first goal in the AJHL on Monday, but the lack of experienced players in the lineup still takes its toll as shown over the weekend.
Curran,” I would like to thank all our affiliates for being able to play and their Coaches to allow them as I know they are all heading into their own in Major Triple A.”
Couch Curran’s Recap
Saturday:
“I know we are injured and it is certainly not helping us but that being said the effort of some of our players was not there. I expect more from them and we all know that all teams have injuries but that shouldn't stop any player from working hard and competing every night. It is up to us as a team to push through these setbacks and stick together and when we do get our players back we will that much stronger.”
Monday:
“I thought that we played hard all night and we never quit and in all honesty we played harder than we played the other night at home. I know the score would not seem to indicate that but I was proud of the boys for not giving up under the circumstances.”