There is still room for improvement for the Red Wings, as they enter the second half of their 2013-14 season. Bryce Thoma, the head coach for the Red Wings, knows that he has a good players on that team.
There is still room for improvement for the Red Wings, as they enter the second half of their 2013-14 season. Bryce Thoma, the head coach for the Red Wings, knows that he has a good players on that team.
"We have improved a lot since the start of the year, but that hasn't registered in the win-loss column yet," said Thoma. "It is frustrating when you don't get those results you know the team is capable of getting."
"Our biggest strengths is our goaltenders, Rylan Parenteau and Jack Burgart," said Thoma. "The rest of the team is struggling to find consistency right now. Every game they are waiting for something bad to happen, and when it does they don't deal with it well."
Looking towards the rest of the season, Thoma noted that there was good opportunity for the Red Wings to climb the Viterra division of the SJHL. "We still play Notre Dame three more times, and Estevan 10 times."
The other advantage for the Wings is they will have a lot more home games during January and February. "We are only four-and-10 on the road, but have a 500-record at home."
"This year in the SJHL, the difference from sixth place to 12th place is just a couple of points," added Thoma.
Right now, the Red Wings are in last place of the Viterra Division of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. They are also tied for 11th place in the league with the Notre Dame Hounds.
On Sunday night, the Red Wings lost a 4-3 overtime decision against the Humboldt Broncos. The Broncos are currently first place in both the Kramer division and the league itself.
The Broncos opened up scoring by notching one goal in the first period. The Red Wings rallied with two unassisted goals in the second period, scored by Donavon Lumb and Matt Eng. Then an early power play goal by Mason Anderson at 3:30 in the third period gave the Wings a slight edge. The goal was assisted by Brendan McKay and Cody Pettapiece.
The Broncos added two goals late in the third period, enough to tie up the game and force an overtime period. In the overtime period, the Broncos secured the game-winning goal. Jack Burgart was in net for the Wings, he stopped 43 out of 47 attempts.
The night before on Saturday, the Red Wings lost 4-2 to Flin Flon. The Bombers are second place in the Sherwood division.
Neither team was able to score during the first period. The Bombers scored twice in the second, with the Red Wings notching a goal when Brian Farkas scored at 14:27, assisted by Ty McLean and Pettapiece.
In the third period, the Bombers notched two more goals to add to their lead. A late goal by Shain Scheschuk at 15:05 was not enough to challenge the Bombers lead. This goal was assisted by Lumb and Pettapiece. Rylan Parenteau was in net for the loss, and he stopped 43 out of 47 attempts.
On Friday night, the Red Wings picked up a 5-3 victory over the Nipawin Hawks. The Hawks currently lead the Sherwood division of the SJHL.
During the first period, the Hawks scored three goals, while Josh Lees notched the only first-period goal for Weyburn, assisted by McLean and Pettapiece.
The Red Wings battled back in both the second and third period, scoring two goals in both periods. Lees had an unassisted goal, while short-handed, at 3:34 in the second period, while Braden Mellon notched a power play goal at 19:20, assisted by McKay and McLean.
Nathan Morris scored early in the third period, assisted by Farkas.
Then Shain Scheschuk took advantage of an empty net and a power play opportunity to score in the last minute of action, assisted by Jon Brumwell.
Goaltending duties were shared by Parenteau, who started the game and stopped seven out of 10 shots in the first period, and Burgart who was perfect in net for the last two periods.
Tonight, Dec. 18, the Red Wings will host the LaRonge Ice Wolves at Crescent Point Place. Then they end December with their annual Tom Huston home-and-home series with Estevan.
The Bruins will be at Crescent Point Place on Monday, Dec. 30, then the Red Wings travel to Estevan on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
