The Parkland Rangers earned three of a possible four points in a pair of games against the Kenora Thistles in Kenora, Ont., over the weekend.
But they were robbed of possibly sweeping the weekend games, thanks to an error in judgement by the referee in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout loss.
After Carter Peters scored on Kenora’s second shot in the shootout, Parkland’s Quentin Fisk had a chance to tie the game on the Rangers’ third shot.
Fisk hit the goal post, but the puck deflected in off the goalie’s skate. The referee waved the goal off, saying the puck was dead.
But according to rule 4.11 (b), with regard to rebounds, referees should apply the following guidelines - the puck hits the goal post, then hits the goaltender and goes into the goal, the goal is allowed.
Rangers head coach Tyler Carefoot said he was pleased with the team’s play for the most part.
“I liked our first period of the first game. We took our foot off the pedal in the second period of the first game. Kenora was very resilient and they had a lot of energy on Saturday night. There was a lot of fans in the stands that were supporting them. So they kept the game close and we were just never able to really pull away,” he said.
The Rangers made a big push in the third period, but could not get the go-ahead goal.
Regarding the shootout, Carefoot said the rule book clearly said the goal should have counted.
“Nonetheless, there was some drama there. But regardless, the message after that game was we had to push forward, we have to persevere and if we bring that mindset of the third period where we played really desperate,” he said. “Not only against Kenora, but if we brought that mindset of playing desperate, we’d be a tough out against any other team.”
The Rangers brought that desperate mindset to Sunday’s game, beating the Thistles, 7-1.
Parkland is on the road tonight to face the Yellowhead Chiefs in Shoal Lake at 7:30 p.m.
On the weekend the Winnipeg Thrashers are in Dauphin for a pair of games, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Carefoot said he was pleased with the team playing desperate, with some urgency and being hard to play against in the two games in Kenora.
“We had that for five of six periods. And hopefully, we can move forward with that and, hopefully, the fellas recognize that that’s the way it has to be done. If we do that, I think we’ll be a tough out going forward,” he said.
