The laser show may have wowed the crowd during the pre-game introductions, but it was the referee’s laser-fast right arm and whistle that dictated the pace of the game during the Airdrie Xtreme’s season-opening win.
More than 20 penalties were called, with the Xtreme counting for three power play and two shorthanded goals, during its 7-3 win over the Okotoks Oilers at the Ron Ebbesen Arena on Sept. 18.
Second-year player Kyle Pauls led the Xtreme with three goals, with Tyler Wong, Connor Boyd, Tristan Thompson and Mackenzee Bauer adding singles.
Xtreme head coach Terry Keogh said he was happy with the result, but would’ve preferred to play more of the game at full strength at this point of the season, rather than work on the special teams for the majority of the 60 minutes.
“We’ve really only had one practice together with the team, so we haven’t had time to work on systems, but we won’t have to work on those at practice much this week,” he said with a laugh, referring to power play and shorthanded situations.
“I certainly would have liked to see more five-on-five. It just puts more flow into the game.”
Connor Bleakley opened the scoring for the Oilers eight minutes into the first on a nifty passing play between he and Quinn Mosby.
Okotoks then suffered a costly giveaway during its first power play, which sent Wong in on a shorthanded partial breakaway, that he buried top shelf to even the score at 1-1.
Pauls then scored his first of the night less than three minutes into the second period on the power play. Two minutes later, Thompson notched his first of the season on a pre-game inspired laser shot from the point off a Wong face-off win.
Bauer then made it 4-1 midway through the period, moments after a power play. Markson Becktold brought the Oilers back to a two-goal deficit two minutes later.
The crazy second period, marred by eight Oilers penalties and four by the Xtreme, ended with Airdrie up 5-3, after Pauls and Bleakley both scored their second goals of the game.
“The second period was all over the place,” Keogh said. “But we have to develop a killer instinct, as we had opportunities up 4-1 and 5-2. We have to keep our foot on the accelerator and finish games.”
Boyd and Pauls added another power play and shorthanded marker respectively to close the game in the third.
“They played well and they’re the type of guys, especially at this time of year, you rely on,” Keogh said of the Xtreme’s four returners: Boyd, Jake Dube, Pauls and Wong.
“But it also gives the newer players something to shoot for to get their level of play up to that of those guys. We dominated for most of the game, but they took advantage of a couple opportunities and made the score a lot closer. They’ve got a couple of very skilled players and we’ll be watching for them the next time,” he said.
“We’re always happy to get a win, but it showed some things that we need to work on. Mostly little things and they’ll come as the year goes on. And we probably won’t have to work on the power play too much for awhile.”
The Xtreme played the Bisons in Calgary on Sept. 22 (after press time) and will return home to host the Lethbridge Golden Hawks on Sept. 26. Game time is 1 p.m. at the Ron Ebbesen Arena.
