The new season started the way the last one ended – with a loss to the Langley Warriors.
The senior B Nanaimo Timbermen were defeated in their home opener Saturday at Frank Crane Arena by the defending champs, 8-7 in overtime.
The Warriors scored a power-play marker with just under two minutes to go in a five-minute sudden-death OT period.
“The effort was there in the game, the guys played hard…” said Mike Maughan, T-men coach. “But we didn’t really execute like we wanted to. There was a lot of dropped passes, early season stuff that we can clean up, but we don’t really like giving away a game at home at all.”
The Timbermen were down 6-4 heading into the third period, but got back to even and had a series of possessions late in the third and in overtime that could have led to a different outcome. Langley’s defence limited Nanaimo’s shots and chances.
“We weren’t really pulling the trigger like we’re normally used to doing, and the kind of flow that we’re used to, so the guys have just got to find some chemistry,” Maughan said.
Nanaimo’s transition game was disjointed.
“It would have been nice to create some offence [in transition], but even simple breakouts and stuff, too, we were running into trouble a lot and turning the ball over a lot,” the coach said.
Maughan said the experience of playing in a close game early in the year and falling short will be a “hard lesson learned” for his team.
“With a game like this, there’s a lot of stuff that you look at that you want to fix and clean up,” he said. “But we know our talent’s there and we know that the guys have a lot of heart and a lot of battle, but it’s just a matter of doing that effectively and efficiently.”
Jon Diplock and Joey Fendick each scored two goals for the T-men and Corey Shires had a goal and four assists. Derek McLeod and Darrin Wilson also tallied. Matt Zeller made 38 saves as his team was outshot 46-26.
For the Warriors, Tanner Olson scored four goals, Geordie Wells added a hat trick and Brad Olson had a goal and an assist. Ryley Brown was the winning goalie.
GAME ON … Nanaimo visits the Valley Rebels on Saturday (May 13). Next home action for the senior B T-men is a midweek matchup May 17, when the Victoria Wolves stop by Frank Crane Arena for an 8 p.m. faceoff.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
Season preview: Senior B Nanaimo Timbermen looking strong for 2017… https://t.co/OdfCXB60QC #Nanaimo #Timbermen #WCSLA pic.twitter.com/0d2GtLVkD4
— Greg Sakaki (@BulletinSports) May 3, 2017