Game foreshadows hockeysaurs’ potential demise

By Alyzee Sibtain

The University of Calgary men’s hockeysaurs are starting to show fleeting signs of last year’s disappointments. The Dinos opened a home-and-home series against the University of Alberta Golden Bears with a 3-4 defeat in front of 437 fans at Father David Bauer Arena Oct. 12. A change of scenery didn’t help the Dinos win column either, as the Bears swept the series the following night with a 4-1 beating up north.

The Battle of Alberta opener favoured the Bears early on, as they built a 2-0 lead within the first couple of minutes. Alberta forwards Corey Wasik and Eric Hunter netted a goal each during the opening period and by the last quarter of the second period, the Dinos found themselves frantically trying to dig their way out of a 0-4 hole. Dino netminder Scott Talbot was forced from the game in the dismal second frame, as Jordan McLaughlin tried to salvage what was left of the game for the hockeysaurs.

The first two goals by the Bears were especially disconcerting, as they were tipped in by the Dinos themselves. Lack of discipline and control reminiscent of last season were evident on the ice, both on the offensive and defensive ends. The Dinos knew they had to turn their game around, and soon.

Dino Drew Campbell found a way past Aaron Sorochan late in the second off of a Torrie Wheat pass, showing some signs of life from the home team. The third period proved to be all hockeysaurs, but it was too little too late. Dinos Andre Blanchette and Teegan Moore brought their team within one goal with five minutes to go in the final frame, but the hockeysaurs fell short on the night.

The hockeysaurs outscored the Bears 15-8 in the third, but Sorochan stood tall under the Dinos offensive onslaught. With McLaughlin on the bench, the Dinos had numerous chances to tie it up and send the game into extra time, especially Wheat who couldn’t put the puck in the empty net. As the final buzzer sounded, the Dinos knew they had to step up their game.

Sadly, Edmonton proved to be no friendlier to the struggling hockeysaurs, who were again heavily outshot by the Bears by a tally of 22-33. Everything was quiet until the second period, which saw the teams combine for a total of four goals. Unfortunately, the majority went to the Bears, with Ryan Stempfle, Harlan Anderson and Hunter tallying goals for Alberta. Wheat managed to bring the score to 2-1 just before the midway point of the period, but the Dinos were unable to generate any offense from then on.

The Dinos again outshot the Bears in the final frame, 12-8, but none of their shots managed to find their way past Sorochan. With McLaughlin on the bench for the final ticks of the game, the Bears put a cap on the scoring and any chance of a Dinos comeback with Bear Tim Krymusa’s empty-netter.