After a disengaged effort in a loss Saturday, the U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers called a players-only meeting Sunday morning and righted their ship in time for their first home-ice victory this season later that afternoon.
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“We had a players’ meeting before the game and sorted some things out,” said rookie centre Brody Sunderland, whose two goals and three points led the Lancers to a 5-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes in Alberta Elite Hockey League action at the Cenovus Energy Hub.
“It felt a lot better than the start of the season. It felt a lot different than the other games. We had some energy going. It wasn’t dead, like how it usually had been.”
The morning after the fall time change, the Lancers showed up early and made the most of their pre-game preparations.
Some frank talk among peers addressed the woes that slowed Lloydminster (2-6-2) in a 4-1 home loss to the Edmonton Junior Oilers Orange on Saturday.
“It was before the coach met with us today,” Sunderland said. “Players came in at 11:30 for a 2 o’clock game and we had a little meeting to sort things out.
“Just effort, I think. Some guys being called out and stuff, they know how to take the adversity and stuff like that. Accountability is a good part of it, too.”
He said 17-year-old defenceman Denton Setzer and 15-year-old forward Tripp Fischer stepped up and led the meeting.
“They took charge, for sure, and got the boys going.”
Sunderland, 15, got things started on the ice when he scored just 1:07 into the game.
The Lancers never looked back and they led 5-0 in the third period before the Hurricanes scored their only two goals in the final 10 minutes.
Along with Sunderland’s third and fourth goals of the season, Kael Scott netted his second and Alec Robinson and Ace Brewer each potted their first goals in the U18 AAA league. Brewer and Scott each had two-point games.
Marwayne cowboy Stran Edge blocked 24 shots to rope his second win in four starts this season.
The Lancers fired 32 shots at Lethbridge goaltender Kayden Van Ham. Elijah Fleck, with two points, and Arlo Heal scored for the last-place Hurricanes (1-8-2).
Gavin Pratt, with his fourth this season, tallied the lone Lloydminster goal Saturday against the Junior Oilers Orange (3-3-2).
Edmonton’s Cole Trimble picked up two goals, including an empty-netter, as part of his three-point afternoon. Paulo Borrelli, on the power play, and Nathan Cabral also scored.
Edmonton outshot Lloyd 40-25 as Asher Ammann made 36 saves for the Lancers and Declan Chelmick blocked 24 shots for the Junior Oilers Orange.
After some encouraging performances in recent weeks, the Lancers felt they underachieved against the Edmonton club, which is just two points above Lloyd in the North Division standings.
“Yesterday was a bit of an egg,” Lancers coach Chris King said after Sunday’s win. “We were flat. It felt flat on the bench. Even after the first period when it was tied 1-1, it was a weird vibe.
Lloydminster coach Chris King. John MacNeil – Meridian Source
“So, today our goal was energy level high, playing together, and I thought we did a really good job of that. Obviously, it helps when you score a bunch of goals early, to get that good feeling.
“But I thought we made some really great team plays, in terms of even Pratt’s backcheck to stop that breakaway. There’s a lot of things that weren’t happening yesterday. When the energy is good like that and the team is playing (with passion), I think we’ve got a chance against anyone, as we’ve shown with St. Albert (and) Fort Sask.”
King also pointed to the players-only meeting as a catalyst in the Lancers’ more-determined showing Sunday. The heart-to-heart discussion preceded a film session with the coaches.
“We kind of embraced the team that they’ve got to be more motivated, internally as a group,” King said. “They had a long players-only (meeting) this morning, so that probably helped them get everything out on the table.
“After a kind of muddy game yesterday, very disconnected, not really a team game from us, it was nice to see us play as a team today. We moved the puck very well. I thought we were very good entering the zone, very good exiting our zone.
“Yeah, sure, Lethbridge is low in the standings. We also know what this (Lloyd) team is capable of, but with us being young, we’re still battling, for good or not good. I thought we faced some adversity today in the third and held on and were composed enough, so that was good.”
That consistency hadn’t been the case in a couple of agonizing home defeats that saw the Lancers lose in overtime. Sunday’s win in Game 10 was their first regular-season victory at the Hub.
“A win on home ice feels amazing,” said Kitscoty’s Sunderland, who leads the Lancers with 13 points after 10 games.
He fuelled himself Sunday morning with a healthy breakfast that included yogurts and bananas.
Sunderland has been clicking well lately on the Kid Line — or perhaps the Pipeline — with fellow WHL prospects Josh Frazer and Kael Scott.
“The Kid Line was very good,” King agreed. “Josh was himself, being a pest. Kael was very strong on the puck, and showed why he’s such a highly touted prospect, in terms of his hands and the plays he can make with his size. Brody was flying all over it.
“What was most impressive about Brody’s game today was his puck support on both sides. And as young players, making those tough plays when you’re not with the puck, and being in the right position, I think is something that they’re really working on. All three of those young guys were good today.”
Sunderland believes that he and fellow Spokane Chiefs draft choice Frazer, along with Calgary Hitmen draft selection Scott, complement each other as linemates.
“I feel like our strengths work together,” he said. “Josh is quick, he’s grinding and getting pucks. Kael is skilled and has really good hands. I feel I have speed, which contributes to the line. I think we work really well together.”
Sunderland was playing in front of his parents, along with a Spokane scout keeping an eye on the three Chiefs’ prospects with the Lancers — Sunderland, Frazer and Connor Nickle.
In the Lancers’ net, Edge has emerged from a backup role early in the season to now rotating with Ammann each game on the usual two-game weekends.
“We’ve basically been splitting them the last three weekends,” King said after Edge backstopped Sunday’s victory.
“Stran has done a great job. He competes like hell. He gave us a shot to win and made some big saves early. And then, he didn’t have a lot of work until the third and he still did a great job in the third.
“We know that either guy can be hot at any time, so we’ll go with whoever is hot.”
Lloydminster hopes to welcome back versatile forward/defenceman Aiden Harman this weekend, if he’s cleared to return from injury.
It would be the first time this season that the Lancers are fully healthy.
Lloyd hosts the Edmonton Junior Oilers Blue (7-3) at 4 p.m. Saturday and the Leduc Oil Kings (3-3-3) at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Despite a few bumps along the way, the Lancers have generally been trending in a positive direction.
“It’s nice, if you look at three of our last four games, I thought we played pretty good,” King said. “That Oilers (Orange) game was a bit of an egg. But we’re going in the right direction. It’s just a matter of sticking with it. They haven’t had the results, so (this victory is) nice for the boys. Like I said, ‘The win shouldn’t feel like a relief. Enjoy the win because you did all the hard (work).’ From there, we’ll keep building.”
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