The St. Paul Canadiens lost the team’s first game of 2011 to the visiting Lloydminster Bandits last Sunday afternoon by a score of 7 – 1.
The only goal for the Canadiens came from Dustin Ouellette, his fourth of the season, with an assist from Skylar Giroux, at 15:36 in the third period.
“I think he brings a lot of skill to our team,” Aaron Block, the Canadiens’ head coach, said of Ouellette, adding, “He creates a lot of opportunities for other guys, and it’s nice that he finished one of his own this time.”
Last Sunday’s loss is the Canadiens’ 19th of the season, leaving the hometown team at ninth and last place in the North East Alberta Junior B Hockey League standings, with 10 more games to go before the start of the post-season.
The Canadiens are battling for a play-off spot against the eighth-ranked Thorhild Titans. The Titans have the same amount of points as the Canadiens, but are ahead due to the Titans’ higher goal differential.
Block, however, is optimistic about the Canadiens making the play-offs. “Our chances are dependent on the guys’ practice commitment, how hard they work during practices, how focused they are for the games, and how they prepare for the games,” Block said.
“I think it’s possible for us to definitely get that last play-off spot … if we have a good month into February, we can catch (the Titans), depending on how they do.”
Block also mentioned that the team is expecting two players from Saskatchewan, and has a total of five spots to add before the Jan. 10 deadline.
The team will face off against the Warriors at Saddle Lake this Friday evening at 8 p.m., and will go against the Wainwright Bisons at home on Sunday at 3 p.m.