Generals drop ninth straight
The Moose Jaw Generals hoped their first Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League games of the new year would see some positive results – even if they were coming against some of the top teams in the league. And sure enough, things were plenty interesting in their first five games after the break. Unfortunately for the local club, the scores were much the same as they had been all season – close, but no cigar.
The Generals couldn’t make a 1-0 lead in the third period stand on Jan. 6 at home against the Tisdale Trojans as they fell 2-1, followed by a late-game collapse in a 6-2 defeat during the rematch on Jan. 7. They then fell 4-2 to the Swift Current Legionnaires on Jan. 11, dropped a 3-2 decision to the Mintos in Prince Albert on Jan. 13 and lost 6-1 to Beardy’s on Jan. 14.
As a result, the Generals dropped to 6-22-3-2 and now sit seven points back of the Battlefords Stars in the quest for the final playoff spot.
“We seem to find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, somehow,” said Warriors assistant coach Kevin Moore. “(Jan. 6 against Tisdale), I honestly thought we could have won that game, (Jan. 7) I don’t think we showed up, for whatever reason. It’s confusing as coaches but that’s how it’s been going.”
Nolan Jones scored 3:05 into the third period to give the Generals a 1-0 lead, but that edge held just over a minute until Tisdale’s Kailen Ukrainetz scored to tie the game. Midway through the frame, a roughing penalty gave the Trojans the opening they needed and Andrew Hayes scored the game-winning goal at the 9:18 mark. Jake Davidson made 26 saves for Moose Jaw. The Generals trailing 3-2 heading into the third the following afternoon, having surrendered a pair of power play markers.
Cade Hayes scored on the man-advantage 6:38 into period to put Tisdale ahead 4-2; the Trojans took back to back penalties midway through the third but the Generals couldn’t score on either opportunity. An empty net goal followed by a final marker with 32 seconds left sealed the deal.
“We let it slide there late, but we can’t score and that’s been our Achille’s heel all year. We get a power play late and we don’t score and it kills us,” Moore said. “This is a good hockey team, let’s not kid ourselves, they move the puck really well and they can score. You have to play to your strengths and staying out of the penalty box is definitely important.”
Casey MacDonald had a goal and an assist in the contest, Jaxon Georget scored their other goal.
Ethan Hein turned aside 29 shots.
Swift Current built a 3-0 lead by the 44 second mark of the second period and never looked back. MacDonald and Jones scored for the Generals, Davidson turned aside 24 shots in the loss.
It was more of the same a couple nights later in Prince Albert, as the Mintos built a 3-0 lead midway through the third before the Generals managed to make things interesting down the stretch.
Georget scored shorthanded at the 8:15 mark before Cal Caragata got another back 1:06 later, but they’d be unable to find the tying goal.
Hein made 25 saves.
A 4-0 lead after the first period proved to be more than enough for the Blackhawks as they went on to their commanding victory – scoring three times on the power play in the process.
McDonald scored their only goal midway through the second.
Davidson stopped 35 shots.
The Generals are back in action Jan. 21 when they host the Mintos (1:30 p.m., Mosaic Place).