By Robb Fenton
The Lloydminster Bobcats had a very up and down weekend.
Friday the ‘Cats became the first team in the AJHL to defeat the Spruce Grove Saints in regulation, edging them 1-0 at home, but the local juniors couldn’t follow that win up, as they fell to the Canmore Eagles Saturday night, 7-4.
“That’s sports. You can come out one night, beat the world and we played extremely well,” Bobcats head coach Tom Keca said of Friday’s win.
“Right after the game was done (Friday), we said it’s great we won, but we have to worry about Saturday. It almost seemed like the worst thing we could have done was score in the first minute because right after that we thought the game was going to be easy.”
The team’s captain Brody Foster’s goal just 40 seconds into the game gave the ‘Cats a quick lead, which normally is a big thing, but the Eagles rattled off the next three goals before the Bobcats responded.
“We stopped moving our feet. They (Eagles) are a team that competes really well, they forecheck hard and they got some bounces. We didn’t deserve a point which is disappointing because we were at a point where we took some steps forward and we can’t keep affording to take steps back.”
The team’s combined for 18 shots and six goals in the first period, with the ‘Cats grabbing the initial lead, falling behind by two, then climbing back into a tie with two goals in the last five minutes of the period.
“We did a good job battling back and in the second period we had some good chances, but we couldn’t get a break and they capitalized on the chances they had,” Keca said.
Everyone in the dressing room knew they played a near perfect game Friday and needed the same intensity Saturday, but after taking an early lead, things fell apart and the effort was lacking for much of the game which came back to bite the team in the end.
“Friday we came with 100 per cent effort and we talked about not being over confident or being too high and I don’t know if it got in our heads, but after scoring in the opening minute we thought the game would be a breeze and let up after that,” Foster said.
For the full story see Tuesday's Source
Photo Caption: Bobcats forward Chad Hohmann looks to sneak the puck past Canmore’s goalie, Sam Brittain during Saturday night’s game at the Civic Centre. Hohmann had a two goals and an assist in the team’s 7-4 loss. - Robb Fenton Photo