For many reasons, there is much to celebrate with the Banff Hockey Academy Bears. Leading scorer Kyle Stephan is now the highest scorer in Bears history, scouts are salivating over defenceman Scott Allen and the team is only two points out of the basement as they chase a playoff appearance.
There’s still lots of room for improvement, dropping a 6-4 decision to the Three Hills Thrashers Sunday (Jan. 27) at the Fenlands arena. A third period collapse sealed their fate after outshooting and outhustling their opponents for 40 minutes.
“If you look at our last 12, 14 games, we have played very well. But we have been inconsistent and undisciplined. We need to be more disciplined in all aspects of the game,” said BHA coach Bill Doherty.
The coach said the team got outworked in the final period, and that cost them the game.
“Three Hills, if you go through their roster, there is no star or stud. They worked hard and were fairly disciplined. They outworked us in the third period. When it really mattered, they outworked us. As a group, given what we’re striving for, that can’t happen,” Doherty said.
Michael Harbich opened the scoring for the Bears, driving to the net and potting a pretty goal past Three Hills goalie Devon Dill. Oleg Lesov and Stephan drew assists.
The Thrashers bounced back with two goals of their own, and sent Bears goalie Bruno Novotny to hospital when he was struck in the throat, drawing blood. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher as a precaution, and coach Bill Doherty said he’ll make a full recovery.
The Bears drew within one in the second period off of a Dylan Robertson blast on the power play, as Stephan and Harbich assisted again to tie the game at two. The Thrashers took the lead again, but Lesov ensured the game remained tied going into the third with a goal of his own. Zack Wildman and Matt Eagletail picked up assists.
In the third period, the wheels fell off for the Bears. Unrelenting in their attack, Three Hills pumped three goals past goaltender Mykhallo Rudenko in four minutes. Robertson squeeked out one more goal, however the end of the game got ugly and the Thrashers walked away with a 6-4 win.
The loss was particularly frustrating considering Banff outshot their opponents by a 50-37 margin. For most of the match, they outshot Three Hills by a two to one margin and Doherty said he needs to see more from his goaltenders.
“Our goaltending has been inconsistent. We give them the opportunity to be players. Look at the shots. The league standard is 90 per cent. Our goalies aren’t there. If they are going to take the next step, they need to be better,” Doherty said.
He also needs a better defensive effort from his top line, which was –3 in the game.
“The fourth, fifth and sixth goals are a result of undisciplined play. Our top line was on the ice for those goals. They have a responsibility at their end of the ice as well,” Doherty said.
The game had playoff implications, as the team has to earn ground in their final eight games of the year.
“It’s truly in our hands. We talked about it at the end of the second period. All we had to do was play an unbelievable 20 minutes, and we did the opposite,” Doherty said.
