By Robb Fenton
The Lloydminster Bandits might be in a rebuilding stage, but they proved this past weekend they shouldn’t be taken lightly.
The Bandits kicked off the 2010-2011 NEAJBHL season with a pair of games – losing 7-6 in overtime Friday in Cold Lake, but rebounding for a convincing 7-0 victory over Thorhild Saturday night in the team’s home opener.
While three points isn’t a bad weekend, the Bandits feel they should have had all four.
“We definitely wanted to get one this weekend and we should have had two, we kind of gave that one away Friday night, being up two with six minutes left. The guys worked extremely hard, we have a different team this year, we have to grind it out a little more,” Bandits coach Joe Young said. “I thought coming into the year goals might be a problem, but it doesn’t seem to be that way so far.”
The Bandits lost a lot of offence in the off-season, but so far in two games the team has put up 13 goals, showing offence might not be a problem.
“In pre-season we didn’t light it up too much, but when the regular season starts everybody’s intensity picks up a little bit more and you finish a little better. I’m very happy with the results this weekend,” Young said.
While it’s a win and the team can be proud of their efforts, Young noted Thorhild isn’t the toughest test his team will face.
Friday night, however, the new look Bandits proved something to their coach as they went shot for shot with one of the pre-season favourites and stuck with them.
“Cold Lake was more of a learning experience than Saturday night. We’re playing a team that’s very potent, the building was packed, it was a sell out. We had everything going against us heading in, but we have a lot of guys on this team who work hard, they’re not afraid of anything and they make things happen when they’re on the ice,” Young noted.
Five Bandits had multi-point games Saturday night, led by Kodi Sawka’s three points, including two goals.
Nathan Newman, Evan Keck, Cameron Stark and Ian McAllister all picked up a goal and an assist each.
Friday, McAllister led the way with a hat-trick, Stark had two more points, along with Cody Bosch and Levi Monteith scored for the Bandits.
“I couldn’t have picked a better game to start the year off. They really wanted us to come to their home opener and they’ve been billing it as ‘we’re going to knock the best team off in Western Canada,’” Young said about the season opener. “We’re in a rebuilding stage this year and I’m extremely happy with the veterans this weekend, they showed a lot of leadership and the young guys showed me and the coaching staff what they can do as well.”
There is still work to do if the Bandits are going to repeat as league champions and Young knows that, which is why he’s going to focus on the defensive zone as the team prepares for a Friday night home game.
“Saturday we put up a zero, but they only had 14 shots. Friday night we gave up seven goals and that’s something in years past that we take pride in, limiting goals against. We just have to be stronger on our sticks. When we have opportunities to get the puck out, we have to,” Young explained. “Sometimes you only get that one chance to get it out and if you don’t it ends up in the back of your net or a great scoring opportunity.”
The Bandits (1-0-1) host the Killam Wheat Kings (1-1-0) Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre, before heading to St. Paul (0-2-0) for a Sunday afternoon game.