DRUMHELLER TURNS THE TIDE AND TIES THE SERIES
A slow start in Game 4 has resulted in another swing of the "momentum pendulum".
Despite scoring the first goal 1:01 into game 4 - it's safe to say the Grizzlys came out flat.
After taking the quick 1-0 lead, much like in game 1 in Olds, it seemed as if the Grizzlys' minds seemed to wonder towards travel plans to Okotoks and the Dragons took advantage.
A Tanner Dion charging penalty not a minute after Olds' goal would give the Dragons all they needed to turn the tide for game 4 - and once again - perhaps the series, scoring their first goal on the power play.
Mere moments afterwards however, it was the Dragons who would be sent to the box - but rather than taking advantage of their man-up chance, much like in game one in Olds, the Grizzlys would allow not one, but two short-handed goals during their powerless power play.
Facing a 3-1 deficit, when less than 4 minutes earlier the Grizz were up a goal, Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg called a time-out to rally the troops and it would work as just over 40 seconds later Carey Koroluk scored, denting into the Dragons lead to make it 3-2.
It would stay that way until the 2nd - when the Grizzlys, playing like men revitalized, would outscore their opposition 3-1 and head into the 3rd frame up 5-4.
Trying desperately to tie the game and keep their season alive the Dragons played a fantastic 3rd - out-shooting Olds 12-3 and playing extremely disciplined in the process - and, with less than 3:00 minutes remaining (AJHL Scoring Summary Not Accurate on Time of Third Goal) the hard work would pay off thanks to Scott Kennedy's game tieing 2nd goal of the post-season and 2nd of the night.
It was then off to overtime - where the first 10 of OT would solve nothing - and neither would the first 10 of the second overtime frame, but after successfully killing off Corbin Karl's Cross Checking minor - the Grizzlys were hemmed into their own end and after just 12 seconds of being back at full strength and just over 24 hours after his team was handed a 7-0 loss on home ice Ashton Reinboldt would score for Dragons, and in the process steal any momentum Olds had heading into the game and perhaps keeping some of it for his own team for Game 5.
Game 5 goes Friday Night at the Olds Sports Complex at 7:30.
GAME NOTES
The Dragons sat two D-Men - Kyle Fehr and Colten Hayes, who both took several penalties in Game 3; After leaving in Game 3 the Dragon's Justin Faryna was seen on crutches and with a bandaged hand sitting in stands for game 4; Garret Sheehan played very well in his first full taste of AJHL playoff action this season, making 33 saves - 18 of those coming in Overtime; Olds Blue-liner Brendon Algeo, has missed the entire series do to injury - but did practice with the team for the first time this week; Olds went 0-5 with the Power Play; Drumheller went 1-8.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Olds Grizzlys at 1:01 - Shadoe Stoodley from Frank Carbonaro and Corbin Karl |
| Drumheller Dragons at 2:51 (PP) - Tyler Matthews from Robert Nocera and Patrick Bartoshyk |
| Drumheller Dragons at 3:41 (SH) - Robert Nocera from Colin Bergman and Patrick Bartoshyk |
| Drumheller Dragons at 5:04 (SH) - Scott Kennedy from Ashton Reinboldt and Lee Morrow |
| Olds Grizzlys at 5:56 - Carey Koroluk from Sean Neumeier |
| PERIOD 2 |
| Olds Grizzlys at 7:13 - Shadoe Stoodley from Frank Carbonaro and Mitchell Maxwell |
| Olds Grizzlys at 10:19 - Brance Orban from Jordan Kwas and Corey Campbell |
| Drumheller Dragons at 11:15 - Justin Morello from Lee Morrow and John Bokla |
| Olds Grizzlys at 14:58 - Chad Berglund from Tanner Dion and Nicholas Bourgeois |
| PERIOD 3 |
| Drumheller Dragons at 6:58 - Scott Kennedy from John Bokla and Ashton Reinboldt |
| OVERTIME PERIOD 2 |
| Drumheller Dragons at 10:38 - Ashton Reinboldt from Scott Kennedy and Tyler Matthews |
INTERESTING TO NOTE
The Similarities between the Dragons Game 1 win and Game 4 win are uncanny. Observe:
Game 1:
Dragons score 6 goals - en route to a 6-2 win.
Game 4:
Dragons score 6 goals - en route to a 6-5 OT win.
Game 1:
Olds' Shadoe Stoodley opens the game's scoring 58 seconds in.
Game 4:
Olds' Shadoe Stoodley opens the game's scoring 1:01 minutes in.
Game 1:
Drumheller scores 3 special team goals in the win (1SH, 2PP)
Game 4:
Drumheller scored 3 special team goals in the win (2SH, 1 PP)
Game 1:
Drumheller goes perfect on the penalty kill. (Olds 0 for 5 PP)
Game 4:
Drumheller goes perfect on the penalty kill. (Olds 0 for 5 PP)
Game 1:
Lance Mckinnen is the Game's Referee
Game 2:
Lance Mckinnen is the Game's Referee
IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION
Though I know at times I'm pretty Olds biased (and proud of it) I have to really give credit to the Drumheller Dragons for their effort in Game 4. I can tell you this much, when this team plays smart - disciplined hockey - they are a really good Hockey Club.
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THE LONG WAY HOME Alright. I've already gotten several calls asking about the "ride-home" and yes, I can tell you the Grizzlys Caravan did not make it home. . .last night.
We rolled into town about 8:00 this morning.
Here's the blow by blow.
Now on any other night - I'd be on the Grizzlys bus with the team and Coaching staff - but on this night we had a Media Van (Play by Play Man Galen Hartviksen, myself (Color Analysis) and Andrew Wild from the Olds Albertan), together with the Grizzlys Video Crew Jeep and the team Bus formed what I've dubbed the Grizzly Caravan.
With about 60 kilometers left in our trek home the 100 kilometer an hour winds caused zero visibility, forcing both the media van and video crew jeep to pull over on a range road and wait it out.
Well about an hour and a half passed by - but this storm was not going anywhere and after a call to the Team Bus by the Video Crew, we were informed that the team was pulled over about 10 kilometers back at the Ronn Gore Memorial Arena in Torrington and much like us - were waiting for a break in the storm.
After carefully assessing the situation, both the Media Van and Video Crew Jeep decided that we were better off in town and in a group than not and elected to drive back to Torrington.
After about 15 minutes on the road, the Video Crew Jeep went into the ditch and not straying from the original mission left the Jeep behind and merged as one sole unit in the Media Van and persevered - making it back to Torrington with the team.
All in all - coaches, players, crew and media waited for about 8 hours in their respective vehicles and at daylight braved the winds, still gusting at around 60-80km/hour, and snow and thanks to some dandy driving by "Dubya and Dubya" (Wes, the Bus Driver and Wild the Media Van Man) made it home safe and sound.
In the end we all - or maybe it was just me - took home a valuable message.
As much as playoff overtime loses suck - they don't compare to peeing in 100 kilometer an hour winds.
Thanks again for the Calls.
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AND THEN THERE WAS ONE. . .The Olds Vs Drumheller Series will be the only one going the distance in Round 1.
The Camrose Kodiaks booked a bus to Brooks to battle the Bandits in Round 2 after finishing off the Calgary Canucks 3 games to 1 at the Edgeworth Center last night.
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