By Scott Roblin

Midget AA Hounds can’t keep puck out of net against Bow Valley

Oct 16, 2017 | 4:47 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Defensive mistakes costing the Medicine Hat Midget AA Hounds on Sunday afternoon, dropping a 6-3 decision to the Bow Valley Timberwolves out of Cochrane.

The Hounds were trying to put another win under their belt, after falling by a 4-2 score to the Taber Golden Suns in their first loss of the season on Friday.

Bow Valley took a 1-0 lead with 2:45 remaining in the first period, with Cale Chudleigh beating Hounds netminder Dawsen Savage.

It didn’t take too long for Medicine Hat to knot the game at 1-1, as Aiden Gleisner tickled the twine just 32 seconds later to keep the score tied after 20 minutes.

The Timberwolves re-took the lead with a little under eight minutes remaining in the middle frame, picking up the go-ahead marker from Keenan McElroy.

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Medicine Hat once again showed their resiliency courtesy of Dax Wandler, scoring with an incredible individual effort with 5:22 left in the second to tie the score at 2-2.

The Hounds took their foot off the pedal near the end of the second however, as Bow Valley picked up goals from Ty Parker and Takuro Okada in the final minute.

Down 4-2 in the final period of regulation, the Hounds were looking to claw their way back on the power play, but ended up allowing a short-handed goal to Bow Valley’s Jack Fairfield 2:44 into the third.

A sign of life from Medicine Hat with 4:17 left in the game, with Wandler executing a perfect toe-drag snipe to bring the Hounds within a pair of goals.

Connor Stephenson secured the victory for the Timberwolves with an empty-net marker, cruising to a 6-3 win against Medicine Hat.

Hounds head coach Randy Wong said a number of defensive errors make the difference between winning and losing on Sunday.

“I thought we gave them all six goals,” said Wong. “It was our mistakes that they capitalized on, so that’s disheartening. When we play, we’re trying to get these guys to learn to make teams earn their wins against us, they’ve got to work hard against us. I think we made six errors, and they scored six goals.”

Wandler was the top offensive product for the Hounds, scoring a pair of goals while adding an assist on Medicine Hat’s opening goal.

He said the team still needs to find their footing, dropping to 2-2 on the season.

“We’re just struggling to come together as a team,” said Wandler. “We just need to build together and talk more… we should be better as the season goes on.”

As for Savage between the pipes, he made 27 saves on 32 shots against in the loss.

It’s a young squad for the Hounds, as they only have four returning veterans after posting a record of 26-8-6 in 2016-17.

Despite the loss, Wong said there’s plenty of optimism in the Hounds dressing room to repeat the success they had last season.

“Our team, we’re excited about this year,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of great potential. We really like this group, and we’re looking forward to a successful year.”

Medicine Hat is on the bus for games on Friday and Saturday, facing off against the Wheatland Chiefs before tangling with the Foothills Bisons.