Your Drumheller Dragons hit the road for two games over the weekend, starting things off in Olds on Friday night against the Grizzlys.
This season the Dragons have had an up and down battle with the Grizzlys, splitting the season series two games a piece, with both Dragons wins coming on the road in Olds. The Grizzlys had a number of changes at the trade deadline, essentially moving into a rebuild for next year but still can’t take them lightly.
Olds would open the scoring early in the game when Hunter Motley scored at 2:36. It would be a back and forth start to the period and Drumheller would control play for the latter half of the first, but could not score the equalizer.
In the second, the Dragons got on the board at 4:56, when Nathan Hawkins scored his sixth of the year, from Bradley Gallo and Aiden Connell, tying the game 1-1. The Dragons would take their first lead of the game at 8:42 when new Dragon, Logan Peskett, scored his first of the year, from Lauchlan Kozicky and Aiden Connell. With 5:07 left in the period, a beautiful tic-tac-goal was scored by the Dragons top line. Bradley Gallo scored his league leading 24th of the year, from Ellis Mieyette and Easton Daneault, making it 3-1 Drumheller. The Dragons weren’t done as Kai Matthew would tally his second of the year, from Jase Johnstone and Tate Yule with 2:10 left in the period.
Drumheller would dominate play in the third as well but couldn’t get anymore past Olds goaltender Ben Dardis. Without the stellar play of Dardis, the score very easily could have been 8 or 9 to 1.
Shots on Goal
Drumheller – 44
Olds – 20
Power Play
Drumheller – 0/4
Olds – 0/1
3 Stars
- Kai Matthew DRM (1G)
- Logan Peskett DRM (1st Goal as a Dragon)
- Ben Dardis OLD (40 saves on 44 shots)
The weekend would continue for your Dragons in Canmore. Drumheller was very fortunate to be part of Scotiabank’s Hockey Day In Canada, which was taking place in Canmore this year.
The Dragons had a great start, opening up the scoring on the man advantage when Ayden Peters scored his 13th of the year from Ellis Mieyette and Will McLaughlin, at5:46. Then, with 6:50 left in the period, your Dragons were on the penalty kill and a two on one developed for Drumheller. Luca Dufour scored his 5th of the season, on a nice setup from Tate Yule, giving the Dragons the 2-0 lead after one period.
You knew that Canmore would come out stronger in the second and they would get on the board at 4:20 of the second, with a goal by Bryson Insinger. Then Drumheller would give up a powerplay goal at 7:12, when Ethan Look potted his 16th of the year, tying the game 2-2. The Eagles would take the lead with 2:20 left in the second as Casey Black scored making it 3-2 Canmore.
Drumheller would again get themselves in penalty trouble in third and it would cost them. With Aiden Connell getting a double minor for high sticking, along with a charging call against Nick McLennan, the Eagles would have a full five on three powerplay for two minutes. At 7:19 they would capitalize as Owen Jones would score making it 4-2 Canmore. The Dragons would take another penalty at 8:12 of the third, and Canmore would again make Drumheller pay with another powerplay marker at 9:02 by Casey Black, his second of the game. Drumheller would get a powerplay of their own with just over two minute left. They would pull goaltender Sean Cootes for the six on four advantage and Canmore’s Kayden Rawji would score in the empty net, making the final 6-2 Canmore.
In the two games in Canmore this month, the Eagles would have 20 powerplay chances and score on 9 of them.
Shots on Goal
Drumheller – 37
Canmore – 41
Powerplays
Drumheller – 1/5
Canmore – 3/9
3 Stars
- Casey Black CAN (2 G, 2 A)
- Ethan Look CAN (1 G. 1 A)
- Ayden Peters DRM (1 G)
The Dragons will be happy to be back in front of their home fans this weekend for two games. The Devon Xtreme will make their final appearance of the year in Drumheller on Friday night. Then, Sunday afternoon, the Camrose Kodiaks, who have been on quite a tear, will be at the Memorial Arena.
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