It's apparent to 麻豆社国产Wolfpack head coach Matt Samson what the team needs to get over the hump - goals.
The team is averaging 2.5 goals per game, the worst in the league and their two games this weekend helped illustrate their inept offence.
"We scored two goals again and you won't win many games in this league doing that," Samson said following Squamish's 3-2 loss to the Grandview Steelers on Saturday (Oct. 30). "We're just not getting enough offensively and we need more than one line to produce for us."
With Trevor Kang dealt to the Port Moody Black Panthers in exchange for Mico Dragutinovic, the team is looking for others to step up but the offence simply hasn't been there. Marcus Chabot is now the team's leading goal scorer with six but there is a large drop-off after him. Forwards Matt Bonin, Jaret Babych, Ty Babych, Tyler Whitmell, Jacob Bergeron and Elliot Mashford have combined for five goals in 81 games, a shockingly low total for what amounts to two full lines of the team's forwards.
The game on Saturday (Oct. 30) against the Steelers started off on the wrong foot, as Grandview opened the scoring just 1:36 in and controlled the early stages of the first period. The Wolfpack answered back at 14:10 when newcomer Garrett Woodside tallied on the power play to even the score. However, the tie was short lived as the Steelers re-took the lead 45 seconds later to go up 2-1 after one period of play.
The second period saw the Wolfpack pick up the pace and respond to Grandview physically. Konrad Sander scored a power play goal on a rebound from a point shot by Ryan Niederkorn to tie the game up but the Wolfpack failed to take the lead after being unable to capitalize on a number of quality chances. 麻豆社国产outshot Grandview 9-6 in the second period but the game was tied at 2 after two periods of play.
In the third, undisciplined play by the Wolfpack spoiled what was a strong team effort. The team took five consecutive penalties and killed off most of them but a delay of game penalty by goalie Jordan Liem cost them. Liem shot the puck over the boards when the team was already down a man, which gave the Steelers a two-man advantage for over a minute. Marko Gordic scored to give the Steelers back the lead on the ensuing advantage.
"When you give a scorer like Gordic that kind of opportunity he will burn you," Samson said of the winning goal. "The penalties really hurt us tonight."
On Sunday (Oct. 31), the team travelled to North Delta to take on the Devils but the result was similar. The Wolfpack only managed to score two goals and fell short by a score of 5-2. 麻豆社国产had 1-0 and 2-1 leads but saw the Devils score four unanswered goals to capture the win. Scoring for the Wolfpack were Bonin and Woodside, with Sander adding two assists. Devils goalie Alexander Ahnert was stellar in between the pipes, stopping 36 of 38 shots.
The team's record now sits at three wins, 11 losses and two overtime losses, fifth in the Tom Shaw Conference and last place in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League.
The next home game for the team will be on Saturday (Nov. 6) when the Port Moody Black Panthers come to town. Face-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. at the Brennan Park Arena.
