The regular season begins tonight for the Drumheller Dragons as they head to Canmore to face the Eagles. They then travel to Camrose on Saturday to take on the Kodiaks.
“We’re playing against a team (the Eagles) that is very well coached. We played against them in the first round of the playoffs last year and had a tough series, so I expect a tough first game,” said Brian Curran, head coach and general manger of the Dragons.
The Dragons swept the Eagles in the first round of the 2012/2013 playoffs.
Over the past two weeks the Dragons have been busy with training camp and preseason. Overall, the Dragons went 3-3 over the preseason.
The Dragons opened the preseason on August 26 with a 3-2 win in overtime in Camrose. The next evening, they lost a close game to the Brooks Bandits. The Dragons were up 5-2 heading into the third, but the Bandits, the AJHL champions for the 2012/2013 season, came back to win 7-5.
“In the Brooks game, we played great for two periods and controlled everything. Then, in the third, they came back, and we panicked and started playing like individuals,” said Curran.
The Dragons notched another win on August 30 in Lloydminster. The next night, they lost 5-1 against the Kindersley Klippers of the SJHL.
On Monday, the Dragons lost 3-2 in a shootout at home, their only home game of the preseason, against the Olds Grizzlys, but won 5-1 the following night in Olds.
Curran feels there are quite a few positive results from the preseason.
“I feel our goaltending has done very well in camp. Curtis Kipp and Steven Glass have been good additions. Our defense has played well. We have some young defensemen, who I think will be very good hockey players as time goes on,” said Curran.
However there are a few areas Curran feels need to be improved.
“For our forwards, I think we have some pretty good strength through all our lines, but we need some of veterans to pick it up. They played okay, but not to my expectations. We need that to change,” said Curran.
The Dragons’ coaching staff was busy making the final cuts to the team earlier this week on Wednesday.
“It’s a time where you’re trying to find players and see what they can do. It’s great to win, because it builds confidence, but at the end of the day we’re trying to make decisions on players,” said Curran.
The Dragons will be looking to start the season on the right foot tonight against the Eagles. Their first home game will be on
“It’s the first game, so everyone is a little excited and nervous. There are still a lot of question marks. It’s a road game and to be successful, you have to win on the road,” said Curran. “I want our boys to give it all they got, work together, and play as a family.”