Record drops to 0-8 for the season

The Jasper Wolves suffered another disappointing loss over the weekend, losing 8 – 5 to the Onoway Ice Dogs.

While the Wolves got off to a competitive start, the league leading Ice Dogs managed to get two goals up on Jasper by the end of the first period. Scores were 3 – 1 at the end of the first.

“The game was lost in the first period,” said wolves player Jake Derksen. “We should have won for sure, but we’re not totally disappointed because they have beat every other team that we’ve lost to.”

However, the Wolves failed to capitalize on multiple 2-man advantages plays with the Ice Dogs having six minor penalties in the second period and went into the third period 6 – 3.

One positive sign for the Wolves, Brady Bangle – playing just his second game for the team – managed to snipe a goal in the first and again in the third period.

“If there’s stuff happening on the ice, he either causes it or he’s in it somehow... that’s a good thing. He creates chances all the time,” said Derksen who also noted that senior player Rob Olson was always working hard to “make stuff happen when nobody else can”.

Though the Wolves may be struggling to piece together a win, Derksen said, it’s not a matter of changing tactics or players. Instead, it’s a matter of getting as much ice time as possible as a team.

“If I was the coach I don’t know if I would change a thing, because with the guys that we have and the experience... we have less experience than other teams and everybody is getting better every game and there’s not much you can do.”

Derksen remains optimistic about this weekend’s clashes as the team “gets better every week.” He also said playing two games at home this weekend should help the team to get a consistent rhythm together.

The team plays Edson on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. and Athabasca on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Each team has won just three games this season.