The Creston Valley Thunder Cats have dropped into last place in their division following two weekend losses to the Castlegar Rebels.
With 32 points, the Thunder Cats are at the bottom of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, two points behind the fourth-place Columbia Valley Rockies.
“We had few good chances to score,” said head coach Josh Hepdtich of Friday’s game in Castlegar, which the Rebels won 3-0. “It was a very tough game. They play a very hard-working, strong, strong game. They’re a team that competes every shift.”
The Rebels scored once on a power play in the first period, and twice in the second. Despite six power plays of their own, the Thunder Cats couldn’t manage a single goal against the Rebels.
“They’re a team that’s fighting for first place in their division,” Hepditch said of the Rebels, who, with 59 points, are tied with the Neslon Leafs in the Neil Murdoch Division. “We actually played a pretty decent game. They capitalized on a couple mistakes we made.”
Saturday’s game in Creston also resulted in a 3-0 loss.
“They brought the exact same game plan,” said Hepditch.
The Rebels scored once in the first period and twice in the third that night.
“We had a goal called back in the first period,” said Hepditch. “We definitely could have turned the momentum around in the first period. … We just couldn’t find the back of the net.”
The last few games have been difficult with key players missing; Ethan Rusnack is still out following a concussion and Jesse Collins is recovering from an upper body injury.
New acquisitions Connor Kid and Luke Jones, formerly of the Grand Forks Border Bruins, may be just what the Thunder Cats need heading into a weekend that will see the Thunder Cats host the Golden Rockets and Penticton Lakers.
With the playoffs drawing closer, every game is important — but with a string of close games against Golden and a recent win over Penticton, Hepditch is confident.
“Nothing is out of hand yet for sure,” he said. “We’ve got to find a way to string a few wins together. … It’s a playoff game every game for us now.”