It was a tough game.
That was what Barrhead Midget 2 Renegades coach Dave Bondarchuk said Jan. 24, after a loss in Game 2 of a two-game, total goals series for Midget C provincial playdowns against Spruce Grove’s SG881 team ended in a loss for the Renegades. Barrhead was also defeated 8-1, in the first game of the series, held Jan. 20 in Spruce Grove.
“Considering that Spruce Grove are a Tier 2 team in the Edmonton league, I think our boys put up a good fight against a stronger opponent,” Bondarchuk said, noting the Renegades only had two lines and four total defencemen in the game.
“Two of our players are out with concussions and one served the final game of a suspension. We were able to affiliate four players from the Bantam team and they did really well for us.”
Bondarchuk said a slow start cost the club.
“As it went on, our players started gaining more confidence and put up a good effort in the second half of the game. Spruce Grove has a very well-rounded team with size and speed. They were able to break up our forecheck in the offensive zone and limited our scoring chances,” he said, adding Spruce Grove also took advantage of their own scoring opportunities.
In the first period, Renegades player Siraj Asaf took the initiative and scored barely five minutes into the frame, on an assist from teammate Jordan Kleinfeldt.
While the ice was broken, the advantage was short-lived.
Spruce Grove answered back quickly, scoring once one minute after Asaf’s goal twice more in the following four minutes.
Heading into the second period, the score was 3-1.
Despite rallying efforts, the Renegades struggled for possession of the puck and the gap was widened by two more goals from Spruce Grove that brought the score to 5-1.
In the third period, Spruce Grove scored their final goal with less than eight minutes remaining and the game ended 6-1.
