The Parkland Rangers had a tough challenge ahead of them when they traveled to Winnipeg to face the undefeated Bruins this past weekend.

Winnipeg entered the two-game set at 6-1, with the only loss coming as a result of a forfeit because of an ineligible player used in a game, Oct. 12, against the Pembina Valley Hawks.

Parkland, meanwhile, was 2-5, and, while the favoured Bruins did sweep the two games, they had to work for the four points.

Winnipeg scored a 6-2 victory, Friday night and a 6-1 win on Saturday.

But the score, according to Rangers head coach Tyler Carefoot, was not indicative of the play in either contest.

The Bruins, he said, may not be as skilled as the 8-0 Brandon Wheat Kings, but they play a playoff brand of hockey.

“They’re good. They’re very disciplined in their structure and their systems and they come at you with lots of speed. And they have skill, as well. They’re a tough out, for sure,” he said.

The teams were tied 1-1 in the second period of Friday’s game when Winnipeg broke the game open with three goals in a 43 second span. That was the difference as the Bruins added a pair in the third period to put the game away.

On Saturday, the Rangers trailed 2-1 going into the final frame, but again, Winnipeg’s offence put the game away with four goals in the period.

Despite the seemingly lopsided results, Carefoot was pleased with the Rangers play, noting they matched Winnipeg’s work ethic, physicality and drive.

“I was proud of the fellas after Friday. That was the message after. I said, ‘guys, this is the work ethic that we’ve been looking for. That’s the compete we’ve been looking for.’ So if we play like that then we add in the little things that help a team be efficient and that’s just the details,” he said.

The Rangers had some time to kill before Saturday’s game, which was a 4 p.m. start, so rather than spend time at a mall or arcade, the team hit the diamond for a quick four-inning game of baseball.

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