The crowd was there, the people were hyped up, the brand new building was open for business and hockey was finally being played on Cold Lake's newest ice surface. There was only one problem; the host team forgot to show up, losing in lacklustre style 5-2 to the Vegreville Rangers.
Well, technically the Cold Lake Jr. B Ice players and coaches were present for the team's home opener in the new Energy Centre arena Saturday, but the group on the ice looked very different from the Cold Lake team that's won back-to-back league championships and started this season 4-0.
“We had a great crowd out there, probably one of the best we've ever seen at an Ice game,” said Neil Langridge, Ice head coach and general manager.
“The guys did a great job of hyping up the game and getting people out there and then when it came to the hockey side of things, we laid a big egg.”
There were hundreds in attendance for Saturday's game, which got out to a slow start on the ice, with the Rangers scoring the only goal of the first period.
Off the ice, a tailgate party was held prior to the game and several fans braved the snowy weather to celebrate the season opener with a few cold drinks.
With the fans amped up for an energetic hockey game, Langridge said his team provided anything but.
“It's really disappointing,” he said. “We could sit around and make excuses all night, but I think the bottom line is we just didn't come to play.
“The boys were really disappointed with their play and as coaches, we take a lot of the responsibility for preparing the team. But the way we played was not going to get it done on any given night.”
The Ice gave up another goal in the second period to go down 2-0 heading into the third. Both Vegreville goals came on the powerplay.
With the game still within reach, the Ice came out hard in the third period. And just 25 seconds into the frame Cold Lake forward Matt Laboucane wired a shot top corner to pull within one.
But just a minute and a half later Vegreville responded with the first of three straight goals to take a 5-1 lead into the last 10 minutes of the game.
Cold Lake picked up one more off the stick of Dallas Ansell, but it was not enough, as the Rangers held on for the win.
Langridge assured fans they will have more to cheer about at the next home game on Nov. 2.
“We have two big games this weekend away from home and we will look to continue our success on the road,” said Langridge. “But we will also be working very hard in practice over the next two weeks to make sure fans get the brand of hockey they are coming out for when they come to a Cold Lake Ice game.”
The Ice play this Friday in Vermilion against the Tigers and Saturday against the Wainwright Bisons, before returning home to take on the Bisons again on Nov. 2, this time at the Energy Centre arena in Cold Lake.
