Mustangs tamed in Alberta tourney
Despite finishing the Olds Grizzlys Bantam AA Invitational Tournament with a 1-3 record last weekend, the Bantam A Mustangs were happy with what they had accomplished.
Despite finishing the Olds Grizzlys Bantam AA Invitational Tournament with a 1-3 record last weekend, the Bantam A
Mustangs were happy with what they had accomplished.
"We were quite happy,鈥� head coach Barry Blisner told the Star. "Obviously you don't want to finish a tournament 1-3. But in the end, what we took away was we can play with these guys.鈥�
The Bantam A Mustangs, made up of 13- and 14-year-old local hockey players, was one of 20 teams participating in the tournament in Olds, Alta., a city located between Red Deer and Calgary.
The team flew out of Whitehorse last Wednesday for the tournament, returning Monday night.
"We were 1-3, but we could have easily been 2-2 if the bounces would have maybe went our way,鈥� said Blisner. "In the end it was a very good tournament. What it shows the kids is obviously they can play.鈥�
The Mustangs' first matchup was against Edmonton-based CAC Alberta Honda Friday, and Whitehorse lost 5-3. Gavin Lawrie scored twice and Nick Dobush added a shorthanded goal in the loss.
On Saturday, the club faced off with eventual-champion CBHA Rangers from Calgary, losing 4-0.
"The only game that we were never really in was against the Calgary Rangers team,鈥� Blisner admitted.
His club rebounded in their third game to beat the MLAC Brickmen out of Edmonton 3-2.
The Mustangs won it in style too, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to win on goals by Levi Johnson, Dobush and Chance Goodman.
On Sunday morning, the club dropped their final game to the Beaumont Braves, 4-3 in a shootout. Goals by Johnson, Sam Logan and Spencer Lessard got them to overtime, but Lawrie and Riley Smoler couldn't convert in the breakaway challenge.
Blisner said his team came out flat Sunday after playing a late game the night prior.
After going down 2-0, the Mustangs scored three unanswered goals only to lose in a shootout.
Nevertheless, he was impressed with his team in their first competition against players their own age.
In Whitehorse, the Bantam A Mustangs play in the C Division of the men's recreational league. The club is currently 2-2-2, good for third place.
Johnson (7G, 3A) and Dobush (4G, 3A) are 1-2 in team scoring.
"For us especially, playing in the men's league, it's good,鈥� Blisner said. "But in the sense of that kind of competition, it's hard to get ready for bantam-age hockey.
"I think the big thing for (the players) is they get to play some teams that are their own age, their own calibre,鈥� he added. "In the rec league, we beat some teams, we lose to some teams, but it's just not the same kind of intensity at all. When we go down there and tell people how we play, the league we play in, they're always pretty impressed.鈥�
The 2012-2013 edition of the club is a deep one, Blisner said. Three solid offensive lines, an experienced defence corps and two returning goalies help.
The Olds tournament was hosted by the town's local Jr. A hockey team, the Grizzlys. The club squared off with the Camrose Kodiaks Friday night 鈥� a highlight for the bantam players in attendance.
While Mustang players naturally feel some trepidation prior to participating in tournaments outside the territory, Blisner said they always return somewhat surprised they can compete with the top bantam clubs in Alberta.
"The aura of Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver 鈥� that's exactly what it is sometimes,鈥� the coach concluded. "It's just what they think. Once they get in a game and see they can play 鈥� it makes a big difference.
"Once they get out there, it's always a different story. They see that wow, we can play with these guys.鈥�
The Bantam A Mustangs return to rec league action Thursday against the Midget B Mustangs at Northwestel Arena. Game time is 7:15 p.m.
The club's next out-of-town experience will be Nov. 24, when the team heads to Winfield B.C. in the Okanagan Valley for a tournament.
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