TISDALE — As the season begins, the Tisdale Trojans are seeking continued improvement.
The team went 1-1-0-1 last week. The Trojans shut out Yorkton, 6-0, on the road last Wednesday. At the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League Showcase in Warman on the weekend, Tisdale fell 5-4 in overtime to Moose Jaw on Friday and lost 5-3 to Swift Current on Sunday. After the weekend, the team was 2-1-0-1.
“We just got to get better,” Tisdale head coach Dennis Kubat said. “One day at a time. Get better every day.”
When asked about what the team will be focusing on. Kubat said:
“It is just buying into the systems... Wanting to get better. Trusting the systems.”
Elaborating more, Kubat said to be successful the club needs to be:
“Playing as a team. Just controlling what you can control – how hard you work, being a good teammate. Sacrificing Not caring about individual stats. Caring about team stats.”
Last Wednesday on the road, goaltender Boston Gelowitz and the Trojans shut out Yorkton. Gelowitz, a 16-year-old rookie from Regina, stopped all 26 shots he faced to record his first SMAAAHL shutout.
“We capitalized on our chances and didn’t give up too too many,” Kubat said. “Boston had a really good game against Yorkton, which helped us a lot.”
Tisdale led 1-0 after the first period. In the second session, the squad lit the lamp three times to take a commanding 4-0 lead. Veteran Mackenzie Carson led the Trojans with a hat trick. Captain Kalen Ukrainetz, a veteran forward, scored, but so did rookies Keagon Little, and Cole Tanchuk. Returning defenceman Zac Robins recorded three assists on the night.
Each year the SMAAAHL Showcase brings the league’s 12 teams together for scouts from various levels to come watch. Kubat said there were a number of people watching the Trojans and the other teams in Warman.
After a scoreless first period Friday at the Showcase, the Trojans found themselves trailing Moose Jaw, 3-1 in the second. The team outscored the newly renamed Warriors, 3-1, in the third period to force overtime. In the extra session Parker Jasper scored to give the formerly named Generals the win.
“It was good that we did not show any quit against Moose Jaw in the third, but we shouldn’t be putting ourselves in those situations if we are playing the way us coaches want us to play,” Kubat said.
On Sunday afternoon, Swift Current scored three goals, including two on the powerplay, to start the game. The Trojans rallied to net two of their own to trail by one, 3-2, at the first intermission. The Legionnaires increased their lead to two, 4-2, in the second. In the third, Tisdale made it a one-goal game, 4-3, but Swift Current scored to create the 5-3 final.
The Trojans have a trio of contests this week. The club hosts the Saskatoon Contacts on Wednesday. On the weekend, the Trojans are in Wilcox to play the Notre Dame Hounds on Saturday. Sunday the team plays against the host Regina Pat Canadians.
The Trojans last week
Wednesday, Sept. 25 in Yorkton
Tisdale 6, Yorkton 0
Trojans Scorers: Mackenzie Carson (3), Keagon Little, Kalen Ukrainetz, Cole Tanchuk
Goalies: Boston Gelowitz, Tisdale, 26 saves on 26 shots; Kael DePape, Yorkton, 35 on 41
Notes: Tisdale led 1-0 and 4-0 at the intermissions. Zac Robins recorded three assists, while Trenton Curtis and Noah Wills had two each.
SMAAAHL Showcase: Friday, Sept. 27 in Warman
Moose Jaw 5, Tisdale 4 OT
Trojans Scorers: Trenton Curtis, Mario Fortier, Kalen Ukrainetz, Noah Wills
Warriors Scorers: Connor McGrath (2), Parker Jasper, Kirk Mullen, Sam Boldt
Goalies: Boston Gelowitz, Tisdale, 26 saves on 26 shots; Kael DePape, Yorkton, 35 on 41
Notes: After a scoreless first period, Moose Jaw took a 3-1 second period lead. The Trojans outscored the Warriors, 3-1, in the third period to force overtime. Jasper had the OT winner. Curtis and Fortier each had three points.
SMAAAHL Showcase: Sunday, Sept. 29 in Warman
Swift Current 5, Tisdale 3
Trojans Scorers: Mackenzie Carson, Mario Fortier. Noah Wills
Legionnaires Scorers: Spencer Bell (2), Hunter Larocque, Ryan McLeary, Quinn Strang
Goalies: Boston Gelowitz, Tisdale, 25 saves on 30 shots; Jacob Herman, Swift Current, 40 on 43
Notes: Swift Current jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Two of those goals came on the powerplay. Tisdale scored twice to make it 3-2 at the end of the first period. Swift Current went up 4-2 in the second period. Tisdale cut it to 4-3 but could not tie things up and the Legionnaires added a goal.
This Week
The Trojans were to host the Saskatoon Contacts on Wednesday. On the weekend, the club plays the Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox on Saturday and in the Queen City against the Regina Pat Canadians on Sunday.
