With only two full-time defencemen, the Westlock Midget Warriors fell 5-4 to the Leduc Roughnecks on Saturday, Dec. 19 in Tier 4 1660 Hockey League action.
Played at the Rotary Spirit Centre, the game was one that coach Rick Dutchak said slipped away.
“It was a game we could have easily won because they had a short bench and we just didn’t take advantage of it,” he said. “Our goal keeper was really good, it’s just our effort level was not there. We had our chances, we just needed to push a little harder.”
Braydie Teszeri scored the club’s two early goals and had a hand in the two others, while Adam Hardinge also finished with four points on a goal and three assists. Derrian Kobewak got the other major.
While Dutchak was happy to see the usual suspects firing on all cylinders he also said it was time for other players to step up.
“Adam and Braydie and even Spencer Blades, they’re three of our leaders,” he said. “But we can’t just rely on them all the time either.
“We’re down to 15. Everybody needs to show up every game. On a big team sometimes you think you can hide in the woodwork but no matter how many players you have it still takes everybody to win.”
It was an undisciplined game with both teams recording 30 penalties between them. Dutchak would like to see his team tighten up on the fouls
“We need to just let them take the penalties and take advantage on the power play,” he said. “We definitely could take less penalties, that’s for sure.”
The Warriors were hampered by player shortages with five of the regular roster either injured or unavailable.
“Three of the players playing defence were forwards,” Dutchak said. “It’s been a real struggle for our team all year. So with that kind of thing we need guys to step up and cover other positions.”
