The outcome definitely could have been different for the North Central Midget AA Bulls.
The Bulls fell by a score of 6-4 to the St. Albert Crusaders at the Multiplex Saturday night, though the team had its opportunities to notch their first mark in the win column against a club who leads the division with a record of eight wins, two losses and a draw.
“We played some really great hockey, “ said Bulls head coach Jody Tangedal.
“The boys should be proud and, although the result was not what we were aiming for, it wasn’t because of a lack of effort. Our powerplay got two goals and generated a lot of grade-A chances, plus our best players were leading the way and everyone fed off of their energy.”
Unfortunately, that energy didn’t translate into the Bulls being able to get the puck out of their own zone in the third period, resulting in two terrible turnovers just inside their blueline and the puck winding up in the back of the net shortly afterwards.
“Those couple of turnovers at an inopportune time cost us,” he stated.
“But we know that those things can be fixed.”
The Bulls started off the contest on the right foot, with Treyton Tangedal pushing the puck past the St. Albert netminder just over three minutes into the game while on the powerplay.
Things got really exciting for the home side less than four minutes later when Tyson Tymo sniped a shot from the slot for the club’s second powerplay goal of the game to put the Bulls up by a pair.
Penalty trouble later on put the home side on the defensive and that allowed St. Albert to tie the game with a pair of goals in the second, then take the lead a minute and a half into the third.
The Bulls’ Shane Witney got that back with just over four minutes gone in the final stanza, only to see it erased 30 seconds later following a turnover.
And it was another turnover 33 seconds after that, which led to St. Albert taking the lead for good.
Jackson Roth would pull the Bulls to within a goal near the midway mark of the third, but the Crusaders didn’t allow many more chances for the Bulls and then put it away with a goal with just over three minutes to play.
“St. Albert is an experienced group that know how to win. We are hoping to learn from these close losses and turn the tables next time we see them.
Next up
The Bulls have another opportunity to get their first win on home ice as they take on the Leduc Roughnecks on Friday night.
Game time at the Multiplex is 8:30 p.m.
They follow that up by heading on the road to Edmonton to face the Knights of Columbus Colts on Saturday afternoon.
