The Drumheller Dragons are turning things around.
On Monday, October 7, the Dragons, reeling from a 5-2 loss at home three nights prior, dished out a decisive 6-2 win over the Calgary Canucks.
The Canucks struck first with a goal 4:45 into the game, but the teams appeared evenly matched until Dallas Smith tied things up for the Dragons ten minutes later. Trent Ouellete would bring the score to 2-1 in the dying minute of the first period on the powerplay.
The Dragons remained on the top for the rest of the game. In the second, Ryan Suchorab increased the Dragons lead to 3-1.
Though the teams remained fairly even on shots, Dragons goalie Curtis Skip ensured the Dragons lead with some key saves.
The Drumheller Dragons scored a big 6-2 win on Monday evening on the road versus the Calgary Canucks. Three nights prior, the Dragons were at home, where they lost 5-2 to the Spruce Grove Saints. The Dragons will be at home this weekend for two back-to-back games; on Saturday at 7 p.m. versus the Lloyminster Bobcats and on Sunday at 2 p.m. against the Canmore Eagles.
Suchorab would strike again with a powerplay goal two minutes into the third. Hunter Mills brought the game to 5-1 at 11:12 into the third. The Canucks finally managed to get the puck past Skip to make the game 5-2. The Canucks pulled their goalie in the final minute of the game, but only succeeded in helping Mills get his second goal of the night.
Despite the win, the weekend began with hardship for the Dragons.
On Friday, October 4, the Dragons were at home in front of a crowded Drumheller Memorial Arena for their first game in two weeks, where they took on the Spruce Grove Saints. It was the first time the two teams have seen each other this season.
Dragons heavyweight Cody Fiala attempted to pump up his teammates early on with a huge fight a mere eight seconds after the opening face-off. However, the Saints gained momentum early, pinning the Dragons in their own zone.
Only seconds after Tyler Poskus took a two minute tripping penalty, the Saints sent the puck flying by Steven Glass for a Saints 1-0 lead. Former Dragon Tristan Reimer then followed up with another goal 20 seconds later to make it 2-0.
The Dragons couldn’t make any headway with their dump-and-chase tactics until Dragons points leader Dallas Smith brought the Dragons back into the game with an unassisted effort at 7:41 into the first.
The Saints retaliated with their third goal of the night a minute later. Glass, who had started in goal for the Dragons, was replaced by Skip.
In the second half of the first, the Dragons were able to break out of their end, play some end-to-end hockey with the Saints, and were better at controlling the puck.
The Saints scored their fourth goal 8 minutes into the second on the powerplay to make it 4-1 after Skip was incurred a delay of game penalty for flicking the puck over the boards.
They would add to their lead early in the third with another goal. Smith, off of Hunter Mills, scored again with just over six minutes left in the game to make the final score 5-2.
The Dragons have suffered through a string of losses early in the season and are currently sitting at a 4-6-1 record and in 5th place of the AJHL Southern Division.
The Dragons will be back at home for a weekend double-bill against the Lloydminster Bobcats and Canmore Eagles. First game starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, with the second on Sunday at 2 p.m.
