The Canadiens hosted third placed Wainwright Bisons last Saturday evening at the Clancy Richard arena, and succumbed to defeat by a score of 11 – 1.
The Canadiens came into the Bisons’ game after a hard loss in a Friday away game against the fifth-placed Vegreville Rangers. During that game, the Canadiens let in nine goals and scored none. The team also took a knock on that evening with the team’s head coach, Aaron Block, given a three game suspension.
The Canadiens looked to rally on Saturday against the Bisons, but would come away with the loss. The team’s lone goal came in the second period from forward Brodey Bull with an assist from Ricky Iron at 4:24.
Even with the lopsided score, assistant coach James Couch commented that the Canadiens’ first period was the best period they played all year.
Couch, however, had plenty of comment on the Canadiens’ lack of healthy players. “Unfortunately we’re short-staffed with all the guys down with injuries right now,” lamented Couch, adding, “They ran out of gas, and they can’t keep up a whole 60 minutes with their injuries.”
Couch was brought in to assist Block in October to work with the team’s rookie defense, and he was kept busy over the weekend, with Block out on his three game suspension.
For the team to improve for the season, Couch explained the Canadiens have to get the team’s injured players healthy first, and get them back into the weekly line-up.
“We have key players who are out right now who can really help the team,” commented Couch, adding, “Plus, this gives the other guys a break where they can actually get a rest in between shifts.”
Couch also explained that the team cannot keep up its weekly pace with so few players in each game. “It’s going to be tough on them … we’re so shorthanded right now, and we’re missing so many guys.
“They’re just getting run down,” explained Couch, “Unfortunately that’s how it goes until we get those who’re injured back and playing.”
The short bench didn’t help the team in its Sunday away game against the Lloydminster Bandits either, with the Canadiens losing by a score of 15 – 1.
The team is currently sitting at eighth place, behind the Saddle Lake Warriors and ahead of the bottom-ranked Thorhild Titans in the Northeast Alberta Junior B Hockey League. The team is currently showing 14 points, two wins and 12 losses in the NEAJBHL website under standings.
Block will be back to coach the team in this coming Friday’s home game against the first place Cold Lake Ice. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.