The 100 Mile House Wranglers are the pacesetters in the Doug Birks Division after winning four games in a row, toppling the Chase Heat and Revelstoke Grizzlies.
“It feels great to win,” said general manager and coach Dale Hladun, who was concerned about the team’s tiredness with four games played in six days.
The four games were against the Sicamous Eagles on Nov. 14 (3-2), Kamloops Storm on Nov. 17 at the new arena in Quesnel(4-2), home against Sicamous on Nov. 18 (10-2) and the North Okanagan Knights on Nov. 19.
Back-up goalie Jared Breitkreuz is making a case to be a starter after winning three of the games he started, including the last game of the week on Nov. 19 against the North Okanagan Knights, who were blitzed by the Wranglers 11-1. While Breitkreuz had little to do, only facing 28 shots, the offensive-minded players punished the Knights.
Cameron Lockard, as Hladun predicted, exploded. The 17-year-old from Whitecourt, Alta. had a four-goal game and also added an assist on fellow Whitecourter Dawson Long’s lone goal in a three-point game.
“When I identified him at a provincial zone tournament, he ran the power play - he had a heavy shot but his vision was amazing,” said Hladun. “I knew he could score but I didn’t know he would unleash like he has so far.”
Lockard has played six games so far, finding the back of the net seven times and helping his teammate find the same three times.
Leading-scorer Justin Bond also had an explosive week, scoring eight points in four games. The 20-year-old from Williams Lake is now two points behind league-leader Josh Bourne of the Chase Heat, who sits at 41.
Next up are two away games against the Grizzlies on Nov. 24 and the Osoyoos Coyotes on Nov. 25.
“It’s going to be a key game [Grizzlies],” said Hladun.”They’re going to want to climb they’re way back up. It’s going to be quite a battle.”
