The Saddle Lake Warriors lost both their weekend games, first against the Wainwright Bisons on Friday by 8 – 4, and then against the Lloydminster Bandits on Saturday by 11 – 3.
The Warriors’ GM, Winston Lapatak, said that the two losses were bitter pills to swallow, and that both the Bisons and the Bandits were “better prepared and they outworked (the team).”
On Friday’s game against the Bisons, Darian Cardinal, the Warriors’ second leading goal-scorer, was given a five game suspension that will be served into the team’s first post-season game. Cardinal received a call of game misconduct after delivering a hit to one of the Bisons’ players with less than 10 minutes to go in the third.
“I think the boys know now that nothing but their best efforts is required if they want to have success against the top four teams,” Lapatak, while adding that the Warriors will most probably meet Lloydminster again in the upcoming North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League (NEAJBHL) playoffs.
In terms of the playoffs, Lapatak also noted that although the team has a 50 – 50 chance of beating the Bandits, for the team to be successful, one of the Warriors’ net minders needs to clearly define himself.
The Warriors currently have John Steinhauer, Matthew Johnson and Craig Uganecz as their goalies, with Johnson having the most regular season experience in the net for the team.
“(Head coach Stan Olson) has been rotating the goalies, and they’re having their turn at the nets,” explained Lapatak, adding that the Olson will decide which net minder will be the team’s playoff goalie by this weekend.
“For us in the playoffs, it begins and it ends with solid goaltending … if we don’t get that solid goaltending, it’ll be a very quick exit for us,” said Lapatak.
Lapatak also added that the mood in the Warriors’ locker room is good, and the boys still have confidence in themselves.
“There’s lots of individual talent on the team, but until they are able to work as a cohesive unit, success is going to be hard to get.”
The Warriors will meet the Wainwright Bisons on Tuesday in an away game, and will face off against the Thorhild Titans at Saddle Lake on Friday evening.
For their last regular season game, the team will head to Frog Lake’s arena on Sunday at 3 p.m. to battle against the Cold Lake Ice.
