It was a tough loss for the Blackfalds Wranglers against the Daysland Stars on Sunday, January 12th at the Bentley Arena. 

The Stars managed to score the first goal, but the Wranglers kept up a decent fight into the second period, as both teams fought hard to maintain the lead.

Near the end of the second, one goal for the Stars was discounted due to a hit that knocked the protective glass out from the frame of the arena’s boards.

The teams went into the third period with the Stars ahead 4-3.

Daysland managed to get further ahead while the Wranglers appeared to lose their momentum. The game ended 7-4 for the Stars. 

Daysland player helps to replace the glass knocked out by rough play.  

“It just wasn’t a full 60 minutes. It’s kind of tough to battle back the whole time when guys aren’t moving their feet as quickly as they should be,” said Wranglers Defender, Justin Moltzahn.

Despite a couple of tough losses early in the season, the team has been able to hold their own on the ice more recently. On January 5th, the Wranglers won in overtime against the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs. 

“It’s baby steps this year. We’re learning lots each game and [our] personality we are starting to get at the end of the year. So, we’re starting to improve. I like our effort in terms of the last half of the season here,” explained Moltzahn.  

For Blackfalds, success is a little more than good plays on the ice, but also managing the emotions that come from success and failure.  

“We have the youngest team in the whole league so they’re getting excited when we’re making good plays when we’re putting the puck in the net…” said Moltzahn who added, “Just staying nice and even keel is something that we need to work on because we’re getting too high and getting too low right now.” 

Moltzahn is hoping the Wranglers can show their newfound strengths next weekend against the Red Deer Rustlers in their last regular-season game. The team will play from home at the Blackfalds Multiplex on Sunday, January 19th at 3:30 PM.