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Sun Devils can’t complete comeback, upended by Wranglers

Apr 23, 2018 | 11:59 AM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A valiant comeback attempt from the Medicine Hat Sun Devils on Sunday afternoon, but it was a case of too little, too late in a 13-9 loss to the Calgary Wranglers.

Falling behind by a 4-0 score in the first period, the Sun Devils weren’t able to get their offence going until the third period against Calgary.

Transition player Daniel Drefs posted a hat-trick in the third period alone to go along with two assists, while Aidan McLean had a four-point game.

Drefs said the team was too slow out of the gate and fell behind the eight-ball early.

“We came out flat-footed, we let them get a couple ahead, and we tried to play catch up the entire game,” said Drefs. “It showed in the last couple minutes where we were coming up, but we didn’t have enough time and should have started sooner.”

Despite falling at home for the first time this season, head coach Chris Loran said the team executed well over the final 20 minutes.

“Having them come back and actually make an effort in the third period to show them what we’re worth is definitely positive moving forward.”

The loss saw the Sun Devils fall back to a .500 record with two wins and two losses, as the club sits tied for tied for first in their division with four points.

Loran said he’s pleased with the overall record, but added the Sun Devils have left points on the table over the last few weeks.

“I’m happy that we’re sitting at .500, but I think we should be ultimately better than this at this point,” said Loran. “With the teams that we’ve played and the outcome of the players that we had on the floor, we probably should have been a little stronger [Sunday].”

It’s back on the road next weekend for the Sun Devils, kicking off a two-game road swing on Saturday against the Red Deer Renegades before facing the Sylvan Lake Yetti on Sunday.