After losing to the Wainwright Bisons on Jan. 11, snapping a four-game winning streak, the Cold Lake Jr. B Ice got right back to its winning ways, knocked off the Lloydminster Bandits and the Vegreville Rangers at the Cold Lake Energy Centre Arena this past weekend to extend the team's current winning streak to four games.
Despite just the one loss in Cold Lake's last nine games and only three loses all season, head coach and general manager Neil Langridge said there is still a lot of work to be done before playoffs start and the team embarks on a journey seeking its third straight league championship.
“We are till struggling to play at our level instead of dropping down to the level of our opponent,” explained Langridge. “That's one thing we'll really be working on and pushing for heading into the post season.”
After a few weeks on the road, the Ice returned home this past weekend and though the team got the wins, Langridge is looking for all 20 players to get on board before what the team hopes is another long playoff run.
After a rough start, with a few fights and a couple of players ejected from the game, Friday's contest against the Bandits seemed to calm down, as the Ice and Bandits went back and forth before Cold Lake pulled away late in the second period.
Ice forwards Dallas Ansell and Niko Bourget both had three point nights in Cold Lake's 5-2 win over Lloyd, while Cold Lake forward Christian Nypower put up two goals in the win.
It was another back-and-forth game Saturday, as Cold Lake opened the scoring, but Vegreville kept clawing back.
With Cold Lake going up 5-3 late in the third period on a goal by forward Matt Laboucane, things seemed set in stone. However, Vegreville kept coming, scoring with just 20 seconds to go, but it was too little too late, as the Ice took it 5-4.
Laboucane also had another goal and an assist on the night, bringing his season point total to 46 points in 22 games, good for third on the team behind Bourget and Ansell.
The three play together on Cold Lake's first line, and Langridge said the line has been unstoppable all year, but hopes the rest of the team can follow suit.
“Our top line has been stellar,” said Langridge. “With them heating up, we're now looking for the rest of the group to follow.”
He said besides working hard over the six games of the season, he is looking for his team to get healthy and suit up a full lineup.
“We haven't suited up a full lineup yet,” he said. “We're looking forward to getting healthy and getting the last pieces in place before a long playoff run.”
Playing in a new arena this season, Langridge said there have been some growing pains, but when the playoffs start, he expects the Energy Centre to be a really fun place to be.
“The new rink has been great, but there have been some growing pains, like with any new home. We're really excited to get our team dressing room completed and we're hoping to secure beers sales as soon as possible,” he said.
“The crowds have been great so far, but we'll really have the new barn rocking when the playoffs start.”
Despite two weeks left in the season, the league has announced its award winners and will present the awards prior to the start of playoffs.
Cold Lake's Dallas Ansell was named the league MVP, racking up 41 goals and 43 assists in just 28 games this season, while linemate Niko Bourget was awarded the Most Gentlemanly Player With Skill award. Bourget has put up 52 points in just 23 games to go along with 66 penalty minutes.
Look for a full story on the Cold Lake Ice award winners in next week's issue of the Nouvelle.
