Ice Wolves start weekend with loss
Photo courtesy of Daniel Despins Photography
The La Ronge Ice Wolves dropped a 5-1 decision Friday night at the Mel Hegland Uniplex to the Estevan Bruins.
“Special teams was a big factor tonight – we gave up two on the penalty kill and we gave up a shorthanded one as well,” said Ice Wolves Asst. Coach Kyle Schneider. “They blocked more shots, they were the hungrier team tonight.”
The Ice Wolves outshot the Bruins 37-36, but they were only able to beat Cam Hrdlicka once as he made his return to the Estevan lineup. Will Forsberg notched his sixth of the season late in regulation for La Ronge.
Felix Allard scored twice for the Bruins, while Owen Simmons, Tristan Dussault and Blake Heward also tallied. Meantime, Karl Soneff made 31 saves in a losing cause at the other end of the ice.
“I thought we got better as the game went on, I thought at the start we just gave them too much time and space” said Schneider. “We’re on home ice, we’ve got to initiate and dictate.”
With the loss, La Ronge slipped to 5-10-2 on the season, which still has them in ninth in the SJHL standings.
The Ice Wolves will look to respond Saturday night on home ice when they finish a weekend series with the Bruins.