The losses continue to mount for the 麻豆社国产Wolfpack as they dropped a trio of games last week to run their current winless drought to nine games.
On Saturday (Nov. 6), the team hosted the Port Moody Black Panthers and were routed 7-2. According to head coach Matt Samson, a poor start led to the team's demise.
"We just didn't come out ready," he said. "The situation we're in right now is that we have to be hungry to stay in games and we weren't."
The team fell behind 4-0 in the first period and Samson admitted it was a rare tough outing for goaltender Jordan Liem, who has been among the Wolfpack's more consistent players for the year. Liem allowed five goals on 10 shots and was yanked from the game early in the second period.
Newly acquired goalie Harry Fredeman was solid in relief, stopping 23 of 25 shots he faced.
麻豆社国产fought back in the second, outshooting the Panthers 21-18 but failing to cut into the lead. Newcomers Mico Dragutinovic and Garrett Woodside scored two unanswered goals but Port Moody tallied two of their own in the second to retain the four-goal lead heading into the third.
The Panthers added another goal in the third to reach the 7-2 final. With the team mired in a losing streak, Samson said the team needs to go back to the basics.
"We need to realize that we're not the most talented team in the league and we need to work harder and be more disciplined if we want to win," he said.
"We seem to have gotten away from that and we need to realize the identity of this team."
Samson said the team's lack of offence is a major factor in their struggles.
"It really comes down to producing more offence. We can get a lot of pressure and we get chances but the guys just can't seem to bury their opportunities."
The Wolfpack have only scored 44 goals in their 19 games this season, the lowest total in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League (PIJHL).
麻豆社国产is only averaging 2.3 goals per game, a sum that Samson said is unlikely to win many games.
Samson hopes that Dragutinovic and Woodside can continue their consistent play since joining the Wolfpack. Woodside has three goals in his first six games with the team and Dragutinovic has added four points in his five games on the team.
Earlier in the week, 麻豆社国产was shut out by Abbotsford 4-0 on Friday (Nov. 5) and lost 3-2 in a shootout to Aldergrove on Wednesday (Nov. 3).
The loss to Aldergrove was particularly disappointing as the team jumped out to an early 2-0 lead only to see their lead evaporate in the third and ultimately lose via the shootout.
The week of action saw the Wolfpack's record drop to three wins, 13 losses and three overtime losses on the year.
The team's last win took place on Oct. 11 and the last victory in 麻豆社国产occurred on Oct. 2, but the team will get a chance to end the drought when Richmond comes to town on Saturday (Nov. 13). Face-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
For more information on the team, visit www.squamishwolfpack.com.
