Six different Xtreme players scored as Airdrie extended its winning streak to four games with a 7-5 victory over the Oilers in Okotoks, Jan. 9.
Mackenzie Bauer scored twice, while Tyler Wong, Ryan Zeniuk, Tristan Thompson, Jake Dube and Philip Anderson all added singles. Netminder Malcolm Walilko made 27 saves to earn his 10th win of the season.
Airdrie continues to sit first in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League’s Ram South Division with a 17W-6L-1T record, six points ahead of the Red Deer Rebels White and seven over the Lethbridge Golden Hawks.
Xtreme head coach Terry Keogh was happy with the win, but said his team could have played better.
“We played well enough to win, but it was kind of a lackluster game and both goalies probably let in a few they would like back,” he said.
“When we decided to play well, we dominated, but the pace was lacking for much of the game. When we let up, Okotoks battled us pretty hard, as they always do.”
The teams each scored three times in the first period, before Airdrie moved ahead by scoring three times again in the second period and once in the third to secure the win.
“Okotoks got a couple of bad ones, then we decided to pour it on to get ourselves back in the game,” Keogh said. “We were a little bit more disciplined defensively and didn’t allow them to get many opportunities in the second half of the game. They had more shots in the game than we did, but they didn’t get the quality chances in the last half.”
The bench boss said he was also impressed with the balanced scoring the team’s second, third and fourth lines provided in the win over Okotoks (7W-14L-2T).
“That’s the positive side – the stuff we’ve been working on for quite some time, about getting that secondary scoring, is starting to produce some benefits,” Keogh said.
Airdrie will return home this weekend, as the Xtreme will host the Challenger South-leading Calgary Bisons, at 7:15 p.m., Jan. 15, as well as the Charger North-leading Leduc Oil Kings, Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. Both games are at the Ron Ebbesen Arena.
“They are two big games and we need to be at our best,” Keogh said.
“We haven’t beat the Bisons yet this year, and this is the third game of three we’ll play against them, so heading into the playoffs, if standings are an indication, we could see them in the South championship. It’s very important for us to get the win. Leduc is a good squad too, as they’re right near the top in the North. We’re expecting two very competitive games this weekend.”
Wong had two assists, Roman Melzer was solid defensively and Christian Fitzgerald and Walilko each played a period in net as the South Conference beat the North Conference 6-5 in overtime during the AMBHL’s All-Star game in Lethbridge, Jan. 8.
“Word back from the guys was that the game went into overtime and it was just a great experience for them and a great showcase for them with the amount of scouts around there,” Keogh said.
