Klippers "lay an egg" in another loss to La Ronge

You'd have to think that if there's one SJHL team the Klippers shouldn't have trouble getting up for, it would be the La Ronge Ice Wolves. With the hit on Andrew Dommett on opening weekend, a hit from behind on Sean Flanagan earlier this month and two straight losses to the defending champs, there should be no need for a pep talk going into a game like tonight.

All that, and the Klippers came out with a stinker in a 4-2 loss to the Wolves.

The Klips put on a little more pressure in the third period and finally started to make some things happen, but the first 40 minutes were tough to watch. Sloppy breakouts, bad decisions in the defensive zone, handling the puck like a hand grenade, missing empty nets, almost no physicality to speak of.

The shots were 40-23 for La Ronge. In the second period, the Klippers had just one shot through the first 17 minutes and only got more when they got a power play late in the frame.

Braeden Adamyk and Johnny Calkins both missed wide open nets in the first period - I'm still scratching my head at how Adamyk missed his - and the team got nothing going on a 55-second two-man advantage, although Jordon Hoffman scored just before the second penalty expired.

I talked to a few parents who made the trip to Kindersley from various areas (including Justin McDonald's dad, Blair, all the way from Turtleford) and it's too bad they didn't see a better game.

Alexandre Peck made his first start as a Klipper and he surrendered four goals in the first period, but he didn't have a smidgen of help from his defence. No man is an island and try as he might, Peck couldn't hold off the Wolves on his own.

The 6'3" netminder made a terrific stop during the first when he made a couple of saves, found himself slightly out of position and lunged across the crease to deny a sure goal. I got the impression that he's quite flexible and athletic for a puckstopper of his size.

That said, he did struggle with rebounds, especially on low shots off the pads. The fourth goal late in the first came after several players hacked and hacked at a loose puck when Peck couldn't cover it up. Of course, the defence was partly to blame on that one too. Peck had a couple other low, simple shots clatter off his pads and into the slot during the second period, including a couple of near-misses for La Ronge.

Skylar Hladun, Doug Lindensmith, Marc-Andre Carre and Graham Smerek scored for the Wolves. For the Klippers, Jordon Hoffman scored his fourth on the power play during the opening frame, and Taylor Wasden found a loose puck at his feet and slammed it five-hole midway through the third.

Here's what Larry Wintoneak had to say after a frustrating game. I also talked to assistant coach Rocky Zinger, but it's getting late so I think I'll save that one for tomorrow.

At the end of the interview, Wintoneak hints at a bag skate or two.