Saksatoon Struggles vs. 21st, Storm

[Renomitsu 930]

Saskatoon, SK – Saskatoon’s upswing is happening a little slower than expected.

 

“A couple of not-so-great losses recently,” commented Saskatoon D Apollo Hackett, “but it happens. The VHLM is a fast-paced league and there have to be stretches where we’re a little behind, and other times when we’re a few goals ahead.”

 

A stretch with several quality points against the Yukon Rush and Ottawa Lynx initially proved highly encouraging for the Canadian squad, which had just signed and traded for a multitude of S65/66 draftees within the last season. Recently, however, several tough losses against Minnesota (35-15-4) and Halifax (36-15-3) has briefly unsettled some players.

 

“We as defenders have to take some responsibility – you don’t get a 6-7 loss without allowing 7 goals,” Hackett remarked, referring to a recent loss to the Storm. “Juan [Jaundice, goalie] has to take on way more shots than he needs to, and that falls to us as a unit. We're a good VHLM squad -- now we just have to show it.”

 

Since making a few trades early in the season, the Wild have struggled to make up significant deficits in W/L points. They presently sit seventh in the league, two points behind the Rush (26-24-4) and five points behind the Lynx (28-23-3) and Aces (27-22-5). The Lynx recently traded away Jack Lynch and D Codrick Past in a fire sale late last week – signaling a potential end to their playoff hopes. So long as they’re ahead of the Rush and Wild, however, their championship hopes stay alive.

 

The Wild have their work cut out for them – as they have the 21st yet again in a rematch of yesterday’s game, followed by the Aces and Rush.