Drumheller Dragons
Dragons’ first win of 2013
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- Published on Friday, 11 January 2013 09:47
- Written by Michael James | © DrumhellerMail.com
The Dragons netted their first win of 2013 and it couldn’t have been any closer.
On Wednesday night, the Okotoks Oilers, the Dragons closest rivals in the standings, came to the Dragons den. The game had the potential to bring the Dragons within striking distance of overtaking the Oilers in the standings.
In a come-from-behind victory, settled only by the last shooter in a shootout, the Dragons came up with a 3-2 victory.
The Dragons took the upper hand on the scoreboard 11:33 into the first period. Colton Vanucci, fighting for the puck behind the Oilers net, managed to get it out front to a waiting Christopher Rauckman, who stuffed it in for the Dragons first goal of the night.
The hard earned lead only lasted just over a minute. The Oilers, with some tic-tac-toe, snuck a shot through the five-hole of the Dragons newest goalie, Etienne Roy. The Oilers followed up with their second goal with just a minute left in the first period.
Both teams battled back and forth in a scoreless second period. It wasn’t until 10 minutes into the third when the Dragons, fighting to tie the game, did so on a solo effort by Cavin Leth.
Neither team could get the upper hand before the end of the third and the game was forced into overtime. In the end, it was yet another shootout that decided the victor.
The Dragons previous two shootout attempts, which were against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on December 21 and January 2, ended in losses for the Dragons.
However this one proved to be in the Dragons favour. The Oilers were up first and could not break through Roy. Their following two attempts ended up scoreless.
The Dragons sent out Rauckman and then Brad Deagle, who both came up empty handed. Dakota Zaharichuk, the final shooter, stuffed the puck past Oilers goalie Jared D’Amico for the Dragons third goal and the win.
The win gives the Dragons 44 points on the season, only three behind the Oilers, who still earned a point from the loss.
The Dragons will be looking to build on the momentum this Saturday in Olds against the Grizzlys and on Monday on the road against the Calgary Mustangs.
The Dragons next home game is next Wednesday against the Mustangs.
Christopher Rauckman (centre) celebrates after scoring the Dragons first goal, and his seventh of the season, against the Okotoks Oilers on Wednesday night. The Dragons, joined by some new faces, defeated the Oilers 3-2 in a tense shootout. The Dragons head to Olds on Saturday to face the Grizzlys and have their next home game next Wednesday.
Illness strikes Dragons locker room
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 January 2013 14:48
- Written by Michael James | © DrumhellerMail.com
So far, 2013 has not been kind to the Drumheller Dragons. Since returning to from the holidays last week, the team has seen action in three games, none of which they won.
The Dragons continued their road trip in Bonnyville to face the Pontiacs. At their previous meeting, the Dragons broke the Pontiacs, but on Friday the Pontiacs ran wild over a weakened Dragon squad, winning 3-0.
However, the Pontiacs had a little help.
“Unfortunately for us, we had several players who caught this flu bug going around. They ended up playing, but had very little energy over the last two games. We had three or four players playing at about 50 per cent, which didn’t help us very much,” said Brian Curran, head coach and general manager of the Dragons.
Late into the first period, the Pontiacs took a two goal lead and added a third in the opening seconds of the third when the Dragons were shorthanded following a cross-checking penalty by Mitchell Gartner.
The following night, the Dragons were on the road again, this time against the Lloydminster Bobcats.
Unlike the previous evening, the Dragons offence was working again, but the defence had difficulty holding back the Bobcats. In the end, the Dragons lost 6-3.
The Bobcats took the lead early, but by the end of the first period, Bryton Mills, with assists from Brennan Baxandall and Mitchell Gartner, tied the game up.
However, the second period proved disastrous for the Dragons and the Bobcats racked up two more goals for a 3-1 lead.
A tripping penalty by Brad Deagle left the Dragons shorthanded, which resulted in a powerplay goal for the Bobcats. While shorthand again, Mills, off of Baxandall, gave the Dragons their second goal soon after.
Before the game was done, Baxandall gave the Dragons another goal, but it was not enough to bring down the Bobcats, who scored twice more before the game was out.
“We definitely outplayed them in the first period. Then, they scored that second goal and it deflated us for awhile. We didn’t play well until the last six minutes of that period. We got momentum back in the third,” said Curran. “We could have played much better. We’re not doing some of the things we were doing well before the break. We’re aware of them, but at the end of the day we will correct them.”
The Dragons will be looking for their first win of 2013 tonight at home against the Okotoks Oilers at 7:30 p.m.
The team battles to recover.
“It was bad timing. They are still sick, unfortunately,” said Curran. “I don’t like to use it as an excuse, but we had some players whose energy levels weren’t there. Other players played really hard, but we didn’t do what we needed to come out with some wins. We’ve got to find ways to win and play some smarter hockey.”
Dragons bounce back after tumultuous season start
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- Published on Saturday, 05 January 2013 08:10
- Written by Michael James | © DrumhellerMail.com
It’s been a rollercoaster season for the Drumheller Dragons so far. The team has gone through difficult lows to roaring highs over the past four months.
It’s a season of change for the team after posting 17 wins and 43 losses in the 2011-2012 season. Compared to last year, this iteration of the Dragons is markedly different.
Things were looking promising after the Dragons posted an impressive preseason, winning the majority of their games.
Then the regular season began and things started to look grim for the team. By the end of October, the team had gone through a nine game losing streak and had won only seven of 18 games.
For awhile, the Dragons were occupying the last spot in the standings of the AJHL southern division.
Then, in November, things began to turn around for the team. Starting November 11, the wins started to pour in and they went on a rampage with an eight game winning streak.
“It’s been quite the run over the past couple months. We had a rough patch, but we rebounded well,” said head coach and general manager Brian Curran. “We had to [rebound] or we’d be in a lot of trouble.”
Over November and December, the Dragons won 12 of their 19 games and headed into Christmas with a record of 19 wins, 15 losses, and 4 over time losses. During that time, the Dragons were seeing greater performances out of its goaltenders and a power play that was red hot.
The success of the past two months has also propelled the team from last place in the AJHL southern division to fourth, which will grant them a playoff position.
Aside from success of the season so far, this year saw many changes to the staff and players on the team.
In March, Brian Curran, who had coached the Brooks Bandits in 2008-2009 and the Lloydminster Bobcats for the previous two seasons, signed a five year contract with the Dragons. From there, the coaching staff was completely transformed.
The team hosted two training camps over the spring and summer and began working to put together a winning team. Between the camps and trades made throughout the season, only four Dragons from last year are currently on the active roster.
The Dragons return to play at home on January 9 at 7:30 p.m.
