The Warman Wildcats split a pair of games in Twin Rivers Hockey League (TRHL) action last weekend, spanking the visiting Hague Royals 6-1 on Friday November 12, but losing 6-5 to the Warriors in Waldheim on Saturday, November 13.
The Friday game at the Warman Diamond Rodeo Arena saw one of the bigger crowds of the season so far, thanks to a sizable cheering section for Hague. It was just the second game of the season for the Royals, and according to Hague coach Randy Penner, the team is still making adjustments after losing their opening game against Rosthern.
“It was a little rough,” said Penner. “We still need to gel as a team.”
The Wildcats, meanwhile, had sharpened their claws after tasting their first victory last weekend against Shellbrook.
Warman captain Brayden Anderson opened the scoring about five minutes into the opening period, followed a minute later by teammate Brett Weiman’s goal. Newcomer Logan McGuire collected an assist on Weiman’s marker, and went on to score the next three goals for a memorable four-point night.
“Logan came to us from Winnipeg,” said Wildcats coach Taylor Watts. “He showed up at our tryout camp as a guy that no one knew. He’s a big kid and has a lot of talent. He just said, ‘I’ll play anywhere you want me to, coach.’
“We started him out on defense, and then the last few games we moved him up on a checking line. And he’s been scoring goals, which is a bonus.”
Taylor Elmy added a goal to help the Wildcats build up a 6-0 lead by the end of the second period.
The Royals finally found a chink in Warman goaltender Nathan Dancy’s armour with just under three minutes left to play in the third period when Darwin Morin scored.
Watts said Dancy was solid between the pipes.
“He didn’t see a ton of rubber, but he stopped what he had to,” said Watts. “In the last ten minutes of the game we kind of got together on the bench and said, ‘let’s work to get him that shutout,’ which obviously didn’t happen.
“We got a little sloppy there at the end and left him hung out to dry, but he bailed us out time and time again.”
Watts said the Wildcats are confident they can compete with anyone in the league.
“We’ve got three solid lines and we’re not afraid to put anyone out on the ice,” he said. “We’re having fun.”
The Wildcats next game is a return match against the Royals in Hague on Friday, November 26. The Waldheim Warriors take on the Wildcats in Warman on Saturday, November 27.