The Northeast BC and Yukon Trackers dropped two straight home games this weekend to the Edge Maroon development team out of Calgary.
The Trackers fell 3-2 on Friday at Kin Arena in Dawson Creek, and lost to the same score Saturday at Pomeroy Centre in Fort St. John.
“They have a good record, and some high-scoring players, but they were definitely games we could of won,” said Trackers assistant coach Mike MacIsaac about the Trackers matchup with the Maroon, who are 5-1-1 in seven North Alberta Midget Hockey League games this season.
On Friday, deadlocked at 2-2 the Trackers gave up a power play goal late in the second period that proved to be the game winner. Ryan Hendrix scored for Maroon, unassisted, with 35 seconds left in the middle frame to put Edge up 3-2.
And on Saturday the Trackers allowed Maroon a 3-0 lead in the first period that the Peace Region midget rep squad couldn’t comeback from.
“They just weren’t ready coming out of the gate, and it cost us,” said MacIsaac about Saturday’s game. “We won the second and third periods but it just wasn’t good enough.”
“We have to play more disciplined, and we have to bury our chances,” added MacIsaac, who feels the Trackers’ penalty troubles are hurting the team.
The Trackers took 30 minutes in penalties in the third period of Friday’s game, including two misconducts that led to suspensions.
“It takes away from the flow of our game whenever we have to kill penalties, it keeps guys we want to be on the ice off it,” explained MacIsaac.
The Trackers are 1-6 in their last seven games, but MacIsaac feels the Trackers can turn things around, and will have to with the Peace River Royals and Grande Prairie Storm as their next opponents. The Royals (9-5-0) and Storm (9-2-1) are second and first respectively in the Trackers’ North Black Division of the NAMHL.
“We are in a slump, but we are in all our games, it's just a matter of time before we start scoring goals and getting some wins,” said MacIsaac.
The Trackers have a break from NAMHL action this coming weekend, but are in Prince George for a Tier 1 Midget tournament. The Royals are in Dawson Creek Saturday, Dec. 1 and the Storm meet the Trackers Sunday in Fort St. John.
