"Whoever said, 'It's not whether you win or lose that counts,' probably lost." - Martina Navratilova, American Tennis PlayerThe Wranglers started with a blast but ended with a whimper. Starting out the 1st period leading 3-0 but then ending the game 3-7. The first period the Wranglers managed 12 shots and 3 goals on the Titan's goalie Gilmore. Wrangler goals were made by Grant Long (assisted by Abera and Blase), Josef Chase (assisted by Abera) and Camden Mee (assisted by Purslow). This must of definitely scared the Titans because they replaced Gilmore with their backup goalie McCurtain and he slammed the door shut to any more goals. Imagine the panic and sense of alarm in the Titans locker room during the first intermission. "What the...? We're losing to the Wranglers! We can't let this happen. Let's get it together and win this one." Well, the Titans came out in the second period and scored 4 goals on 22 shots, taking the lead away from the Wranglers. The score at the end of the 2nd period, Wranglers 3, Titans 4.
It was still a hockey game - the Wranglers were only down 1 goal. Let's once again imagine what it was like in the Titans locker room during the 2nd intermission. "Ok boys, we can win this one. The key is to keep putting the pressure on them. We do not want to let them get another goal. Let's go out and put the game away." The Wranglers managed 9 shots in the 2nd and only 3 shots in the 3rd to finish the game with a total of 24 shots. The Titans meanwhile continued to turn up the heat with 26 shots in the 3rd for a game total of 64 shots. Titans mission accomplished.
The Titans are a fast skating team and simply out-skated and out-manuevered the Wranglers. The "boo-birds" out there will probably want to blame the Wrangler "D" but the Wrangler forwards need to help out too. Allowing the Titans to make so many shots reflects not only on the Wrangler "D" but as well from the Wrangler forwards too. From what I heard they just couldn't keep up. The Titans have a mission to make it into the Pacific Division NorPac playoffs but to do that they have to win almost every one their remaining games. As a result, they're on a mission to win. The Wranglers only mission is to act as the spoiler and for pride to win a game.
I wasn't at the game last night, but through E-mail and telephone calls, both to Wrangler fans and Titans fans (yes, I know some) they said that the Wranglers, despite the score played a good game. I know game stars are awarded to players on both teams, but I'm going to be selfish and only award them to Wranglers. First star goes to Abeal Abera. I continuously heard his name on the broadcast last night and heard reports that he played very well and was involved in two of the three Wrangler goals. Second star goes to Grant Long. Grant played two periods as a forward and scored one goal. He is a leader that the Wranglers need right now. Third star is shared by two players - Josef Chase and Camden Mee. For Chase, he scored a goal - his first of the season - and was reported by several folks that he played with tenacity. In fact one Titans parent commented "I didn't know he could play so mean." For Mee, he too scored a goal, his third of the season, and played with a lot of heart and hustle. Honorable mentions go to Chad Steiner and Brett Losey. Chad and Brett are the two youngest Wranglers and every game they go out and give their best. I heard Chad's name quite a bit last night as well as Brett's. This was sort of a homecoming for Brett since he was traded from the Titans to the Wranglers. From what I could tell Brett took no crap from any Titans.
The Wranglers play the Tri-City Titans again next week on Thursday, Jan. 15 and Friday, Jan. 16 in Medford. Hopefully a few days of practice will help and maybe, yes maybe the Wranglers can play the role of spoiler. GO WRANGLERS!
