Dave Leaderhouse
Herald Staff
The Prince Albert Icehawks did a little experimenting for their final Prairie Junior Hockey League tune-up game and even though the score might not indicate it, coach Kim Dryka feels it deserves a passing grade.
“We had three different guys and a different goalie and that obviously made a difference,” explained Dryka of the 11-4 loss to the Delisle Chiefs in Aberdeen on Friday, just 24 hours after the Icehawks had won the first game of the home-and-home series 4-1 at the Kinsmen Arena on Thursday. “We’re still doing some experimenting and that’s what exhibition games are for.”
“We played four (exhibition) games and saw what we wanted,” added Dryka. “We want to get down to our team in the next day or so and then we can get into systems and line combinations.”
In the first game of the series, Jordan Grywacheski, Parker Turner, Brett Boyer and Lucas Anseth scored for Prince Albert, which led 2-1 heading into the final period after the teams battled to a scoreless draw in the opening session. Evan Dorian and Bryce Nemish each chipped in with two assists to help the Icehawks reach the win column for the only time in the pre-season.
In the second game, Turner was the offensive star for Prince Albert scoring a pair of goals. Jordon Harasyn and Tyler Tilford also scored for the Icehawks, who had Tyler Gordon and Dakota Fiddler share the netminding duties and the duo faced 49 shots.
The Icehawks, who were 1-2-0-1 in the pre-season, will now have nearly two weeks off before they open the regular season on Oct. 13 at home against the Ochapowace Thunder. Game time for that contest is 7:30 p.m. at the Kinsmen Arena.
