For the first time, I have been in attendance for more Golden Bear losses than wins. Granted it is early in the season and I’ve only attended 3 games; only one of which was an actual regular season game. Strange nonetheless.
This past Friday was the University of Alberta Golden Bears home opener at the Clare Drake Arena. It was a good crowd considering that the Blue Jays and Oilers were both playing. I would guess that there were just over 1,000 fans in attendance.
The game featured the banner raising for the U of A’s 2015 National Championship. As I watched the banner raise up to the rafters I wondered if another one would actually fit.
The game which followed the opening ceremony was a letdown. Despite opening the scoring at 8:41 of the first on a goal by Kruise Reddick, the Golden Bears weren’t the dominant team. Again, I witnessed another first; as a season ticket holder I had never witnessed a Bears team which was outshot after a single period of play. That was before Friday night. Credit to Mount Royal as they are a much improved squad and the controlled play for the bulk of the first two periods. When I first started going to U of A games a few years ago, the Cougars were a guaranteed win on the calendar. Not any longer.
Mount Royal took the lead with two quick goals late in the second period and held the lead the rest of the way. The Bears decided to start playing in the third period when their backs were already against the wall.
The final score for the Friday night game (with an empty net goal) was 4-2 for the bad guys.
I didn’t attend the rematch on Saturday in Calgary, but from reading the box score it appears to have been a great game.
The Bears were more of their usual selves outshooting Mount Royal 34-21. The game went to OT and ended with Jordan Hickmott putting home the game winner on the power play.
The University of Alberta now sit third, with a 4-1-1 record, in the Canada West behind Saskatchewan and UBC and one point ahead of Mount Royal. The Bears have dropped out of the top spot in the national CIS rankings to third place behind UNB and Saskatchewan.
Next up for the Bears is a huge weekend series in Saskatoon against the number 1 ranked team in the country, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. The game can be watched online on Canada West TV.
Live from Rich’s Garage
There was supposed to be a Bear’s post game show recorded in Rich’s garage on Friday night. It never happened due to technical difficulties (I forgot my mic). However, the post game show will return after the Bear’s next home game against Manitoba on November 6th.
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