Westlock’s senior ‘AA’ Warriors enter the Christmas break with a 6-6-0 North Central Hockey League record after falling to the Whitecourt Wild 5-3 in Whitecourt on Dec. 13.
“We finish up before the Christmas break here on a .500 record, which is exactly where we were hoping to be,” said coach Joe Kuhar.
The game was really two games in one. Early on, the Warriors were in control early, but as the game wore on the Wild took control.
After 20 minutes, the Warriors held a 2-0 lead, Kuhar said.
Evan Kuhar opened the scoring, with an assist from Alex Belzevick. Shortly after, Belzevick scored his own goal, receiving and assist from Clayton Herzog.
However, the second proved to be their undoing.
“We had a little lapse in the second period and got caught flat footed,” coach Kuhar said.
In the second, the Wild scored three straight goals in a seven-minute span. The Warriors responded with one of their own, but a late Wild goal made it 4-3 for Whitecourt after 40 minutes.
The third was a quieter period in terms of offence, with the Wild scoring the only goal of the frame to make it 5-3.
Part of how the Warriors performed came down to fatigue.
“It was a tough battle,” Kuhar said. “We were a little short-benched and they had a full roster.”
Using their full bench to their advantage, the Wild came at the Warriors hard, he said. They’re a big team and play a physical game, and while the Warriors held their own, they ultimately succumbed to the pressure.
The Warriors now have until Jan. 3 to rest and prepare for the remaining six games of their season.
Of late they have been shorthanded because several players have had school to deal with, Kuhar said. But once 2014 starts, he’s expecting a fuller roster at his disposal, putting the team in a good position as the playoffs approach.
The Warriors’ next game is Jan. 3 at home against Whitecourt.
“We hope to reciprocate with a W against them,” Kuhar said.
