First the good news: the regular season is only two games old.
Secondly, the bad news: Barrhead’s Renegades have lost both games by four-goal and three-goal margins. They also have two players suspended – Brandon Marsh and Carlitto Betts – who have to sit out two more games.
Now an analysis of the news: The Midget side must tighten up their mental game and stop giving away so many penalties, if they are to prosper this season.
Finally, a note of optimism: The Renegades have already proven they are competitive in Midget Tier 4. They are prepared to chase and hustle. They have fire in their belly and will not accept defeat meekly.
In Saturday’s 7-4 loss to Vegreville at the Agrena, the home side showed plenty of grit as they tried to claw their way back into contention after conceding two early goals in the first period.
Aaron Wharton, assisted by Nick Bauld and Troy Starman, opened Renegades’ account with a goal at 10:50. Moments later Nic Murrell had the home crowd cheering with a goal at 10:36, after assists by Owen Lockhart and Starman.
Had the Renegades held firm to go into the second period 2-2, then the game’s narrative might have changed. Instead, they fell behind again at 8:20 to a Tyler Candlish goal, and remained on the back foot for the rest of the game.
The second period saw Vegreville increase their advantage by a Ryan Zavaczki goal, while the third period almost mirrored the first.
When Ryan Love scored at 13:16 to put Vegreville 5-2 up, there seemed to be no way back for Renegades. Then came a partial comeback with goals by Trey Olson (11:07) and Jesse Steele (4:46) to narrow the gap.
It was but a brief glimmer of hope, snuffed out by two further Vegreville goals.
Renegades coach Jason Murrell described it as a good, competitive hockey game, but he believed his side needed to tighten up in certain areas.
“Too many penalties on our part and too many mental errors,” he said. “I would say there was a lack of focus. It becomes hard when you are short-handed.”
Murrell said the suspension of Marsh and Betts had left the Renegades overstretched.
“It means that some of our players feel they have to do that little bit more,” he said.
At the Renegades’ next practice the team can expect to do some extra skating.
Saturday’s defeat followed the Nov. 3 4-8 loss to Sturgeon Midget, in which Betts was ordered off for slashing, joining Marsh on the sidelines.
Marsh had been penalized about a week earlier for fighting near the end of Renegades’ 5-2 preseason loss to Leduc. The game saw Renegades run into penalty problems, compounded by a lack of discipline.
It seems the lessons are still being absorbed. Sometimes it is easier to diagnose a problem than eliminate it.
The Renegades’ next game is away to Riviere Qui Barre on Friday, Nov. 16.
