Don’t read too much into three pre-season losses in as many days for the U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers.
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At least that’s the word from Lancers forward Gavin Pratt, who saw encouraging signs as prospects made final pushes for roster spots with the Alberta Elite Hockey League team.
Pratt believes Lloydminster played its best game of the weekend on Sunday (Sept. 14) in its Cenovus Energy Hub debut, even though it was a 6-1 loss to the swift-skating U18 prep team from OHA Edmonton.
“Today, we were definitely playing well as a team, better than the first two (games),” he said Sunday night.
“The two games before were kind of more physical, I’d say. Today was a little less physical, a little more quick. I think we just had a couple of mistakes that ended up in the back of our net. We didn’t capitalize when we could have.”
The Lancers opened their exhibition schedule with a pair of road games against two of their AEHL contemporaries — a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Junior Oilers Orange on Friday night and a 3-2 setback against the St. Albert Raiders on Saturday afternoon.
In front of a few hundred fans Sunday at the Hub, Lloyd’s first U18 AAA goal in the flashy new rink came from 15-year-old centre Brody Sunderland. He connected with fellow Kitscoty native Pratt, along with Ace Brewer, to even the score at 1-1 midway through the first period.
Sunderland, a Spokane Chiefs’ prospect, centered a creative line with Pratt and Lloydminster resident Kael Scott, a Calgary Hitmen draft choice who was facing some of his friends from his previous program, OHA Edmonton.
The academy team received a goal and two assists each from forward Bronsyn Mouille and Lethbridge Hurricanes’ defence prospect Liam McFadden.
PROMISING ROOKIES
Pratt led the U17 AAA Lancers in scoring last season, with 19 goals and 35 points in 34 games. Stepping up to U18 AAA, he welcomed the opportunity to play alongside young guns Sunderland and Scott.
“They’re definitely good,” said Pratt, 16. “They’ve got the size to them and the skill and the IQ. They know what they’re doing out there.
“It’s going well. I’m prepared to earn everything and get all the opportunity I can.”
Sunderland and Pratt attend grades 10 and 11, respectively, at Kitscoty High School, while Scott is a 10th grader at Lloydminster Comprehensive.
Sunderland is a year younger than Pratt, who figured it’s been a long time since they played together.
“Brody is a 2010-born player, so I played atom with him for one year, when he affiliated with us,” Pratt said. “I didn’t play with him much, (but) I’ve known him forever.”
Sunderland and Pratt are from the same hometown as the U18 AAA Lancers’ new coach, Chris King, who has Kitscoty roots.
AUDITION WITH BOBCATS
In preparing for his graduation to the top U18 level this season, Pratt attended spring and summer training camps with the junior A Lloydminster Bobcats. He and fellow Lancers forward Logan Flewell of Paradise Valley were linemates when they dressed for the Bobcats in their Sept. 1 exhibition game at the Centennial Civic Centre.
Last spring, Pratt and Flewell represented their respective schools — Kitscoty and E.H. Walter — in the Alberta high school provincial badminton championships.
Both of those players scored for the Lancers last Saturday in the one-goal loss at St. Albert, which is where Sunderland played U15 AAA hockey last winter.
Asher Halliday’s power-play goal with less than five minutes left gave the Raiders the victory.
In Friday’s kickoff game, the lone Lloydminster goal came from newcomer Ty Domshy, a 2008-born forward from St. Albert. His power-play tally was assisted by fellow 17-year-old forward Carson Mazzei, who collected two assists on the weekend.
Charlie Leclaire tallied twice for Edmonton. Zachary Schwartz added a goal and an assist.
Brayden Gramlich, Stran Edge, Reo Martin and Lewis Schieve tended Lloydminster’s net throughout the weekend, during which the Lancers outshot their opponents in two of the three games.
This is a season of change for Pratt, whose father Scott coached him over the years, most recently at the U17 AAA level. Scott is looking forward to being a spectator this winter, his son said.
Another new scenario for the Pratts is their Kitscoty residence. “We just moved into Kitscoty again, from an acreage just outside,” Gavin said. “It’s not too bad. I’m like 200 metres from the school, so I just get up at 8 (a.m.) and walk to school. It’s pretty good. Brody lives nearby. He’s pretty close (to the school) as well.”
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