Golden Hawks get a lesson in a loss
For the young Lethbridge Val Matteotti bantam AAA Golden Hawks, the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League season has thus far been a learning experience.
The Golden Hawks got another lesson Sunday afternoon in a 7-4 loss to the Calgary Royals at Nicholas Sheran Arena.
Facing a Royals team that had won one game heading into the afternoon contest, the Golden Hawks saw their 2-0 lead disappear as the Royals struck for four second period goals and a 4-2 lead they never gave back.
The Golden Hawks scored twice late to cut the lead to 6-4, but the Royals added an empty-netter to improve to 213-3.
Lethbridge is now 4-9-3 following a 3-3 tie with the Medicine Hat SEAC Tigers Saturday in Medicine Hat.
“Hockey is an honest game and you get what you deserve and we got what we deserved today,” said Golden Hawks head coach Sean Gillam. “We didn’t show up to play and we got out-worked by a team that has improved greatly. So kudos to them. They came in and played their game and came into our rink and out-worked us.”
Caden Heins scored both Golden Hawks goals in the first period and John Szabo added the third period goals. Szabo added an assist for three points.
Golden Hawks captain Rylen Roersma had a pair of assists in the loss.
“We’ve been struggling a little bit,” said Roersma, the sole returnee from last year’s Golden Hawks team. “We had a pretty solid tournament early in the year in Medicine Hat. We’re just trying to find our way and start clicking with each other. We just didn’t prepare well for today.”
Carter Capton made 34 saves for Lethbridge.
On Saturday in Medicine Hat, the Golden Hawks and Tigers swapped two third period goals each en route to the tie.
Szabo and Heins scored in the final period. Cole Wirun provided Lethbride’s second-period goal that tied the game 1-1 after two periods. Wirun also had an assist.
Roersma had two assists to set up his four-point weekend and Emanual Hudson also had two assists.
Golden Hawks goaltender Ty Young was kept busy Saturday, making 45 saves.
“Yesterday we played hard,” said Gillam. “We were lucky yesterday, too, because we didn’t play 60 minutes. We were fortunate to get a tie there. Our group of kids needs to figure out what it takes and how hard you have to work to play bantam AAA. We’re going to have a good work week of practice coming up.
“We’re definitely making strides forward, but we are an inconsistent team and we need to figure out how to put together a 60minute game. Some games we play well and some games we kind of play well and other games we don’t play well at all. Hockey is an honest game and if you’re not willing to work for 60 minutes that’s what you’re going to get.”
With his four-point weekend, Roersma now has 20 points in 15 games.
As the lone returning player, he welcomes the chance to don a letter.
“It’s a great feeling to wear the ‘C’ on the team, he said. “It’s a special reward for playing on the team from last year. It’s a pretty big responsibility to wear the C for this team, but I like the pressure.”
The Golden Hawks return to Nicholas Sheran Arena Friday night when the Grande Prairie GPAC Golden Arrow Storm pay a visit at 6 p.m. and hit the road to Okotoks Saturday to face the Oilers.
Lethbridge has one more game before Christmas when they host the Calgary Flames Dec. 20 at 7:45 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena
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