The Kitimat Ice Demons suffered two huge losses on their most recent road trip this past weekend, cementing them at the bottom of the standings.
The team lost 12-1 to the Quesnel Kangaroos and 14-7 to the Williams Lake Stampeders on their two-day road trip.
The team only travelled with 13 players due to injuries and absences, rostering only two natural defensemen, forcing attacking players to hang back and play defence.
“When you don’t have guys in the right position it makes it tough,” said head coach Donald Pacheco.
They conceded 13 straight against the Kangaroos before Derek Wakita netted one in the last minute of the game assisted by Tayden Fowler Mcnab and Giusseppe Bravo. Goaltender Nick Almeida made 40 saves on 52 shots.
On top of the big loss, Kailen Rigoni got a stick to the face and was forced to sit out Sunday’s game against the Stampeders.
On Sunday Pacheco decided to change the forecheck system with some success, as the Demons went up 1-0 with a goal from Fowler Mcnab.
Despite the early lead, the Stampeders took control.
“[The Stampeders] were ready with four lines, we were down to eight forwards. That makes it really tough to play a whole game,” Pachecho said.
Goals were scored by Fowler Mcnab (4), Perry Robinson, Lou Ribeiro and Lucas Aiken.
Penalty troubles were again a familiar problem this past weekend, as the team has accumulated 170 penalty minutes over the season, 67 more than the second-most penalized team, the Kangaroos.
“We got into penalty trouble right away and we just didn’t skate hard enough.”
Something has to change for the Ice Demons if they hope to save the season. More absences will continue to hurt the team according to Pacheco.
“We’re gonna stick with the same forecheck and hopefully the guys adapt to it,” he said. “We’re going to have to play a tight checking game. It’ll be a dull, boring road game if we want to win this weekend.”
The Ice Demons travel to Hazelton to take on the Wolverines this Friday at 7:30 p.m.
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