By Robb Fenton
The Lloydminster Bandits were able to jump out to a quick lead and not look back this past weekend.
In their only game of the weekend, the Bandits hosted and defeated the Wainwright Bisons 5-2 Friday night as both teams continue to battle the flu.
Bandits head coach Joe Young said this is a tough game to evaluate for his coaching staff.
“It’s always nice to get two points, but going into the game we implemented a few different things in practice and were obviously working on them,” he said. “We have to change it up because we can’t do the same things over and over every time. We’re trying different things, working on things and trying to get better.”
While the game wasn’t a typical Bandit win, it wasn’t a poorly played game.
Young admitted both teams didn’t have the jump they normally do, but his team did enough to score in every period and pick up the win.
“It was one of those games with no flow, it just seemed like the passes weren’t on the tape, it was just one of those nights. I preach consistency, but I also want us to work on stuff too. We’re going to make mistakes and turn pucks over and that’s to be expected a bit,” Young explained. “We’re not at the point where guys are comfortable at full speed. We’re going to get better and all I take out of this game is two points.”
Lenny Young and Cole Kosteriva scored in the first period to put the Bandits up 2-0 after outshooting the Bisons 17-9.
“They had a short bench, they are seriously suffering from the flu, they didn’t have many guys,” Young said. “It’s tough when you have 20 guys and you look at the other bench and they don’t have many bodies there. It’s tough to keep the emotion for the whole game, but overall Evan (Nygren) made some good saves for us.”