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Lightning to consolidate roster

94686stettlerLightning
The goal coming from a diving shot - Tyler Bissett

After splitting yet another week between a win and a loss, Stettler Lightning will use the next two weeks to look into ways of consolidating their roster and possibly trying a few new game plays, according to head coach Doug Smith.

In their first of the two Heritage Junior B Hockey League games last week, the Lightning lost 6-2 to Cochrane Generals in a road game on Friday, Dec. 17. The goals for the local boys were scored by Steve Blacklock and Brett Wold.

“It was just kind of an up-and-down game in Cochrane,” said Smith.

“We played well for 15 minutes and then fell asleep and then played well for another 15 minutes.”

But the powerful Generals, having established their dominance on the ice from the start, did not allow the Lightning to come close to bridging the gap on the scoreboard.

In the home game on Saturday, Dec. 18 against Rimbey Rock, the Lightning got off to a little shaky start before establishing and dictating their pace to their opponent.

“We didn’t start quite as crisp as I would have expected to start at home, but we persevered and then got on our game plan a little bit better in the second and third period,” said coach Smith.

Mitch Finkbiner scored twice with Landon Potter, Kyler O’Connor, rookie Tyler Bissett and Tyson Glazier adding one to the tally each.

Smith said in the next two weeks, they would try some new line-ups in the practices in addition to welcoming some new faces to the roster.

A familiar name, Cody Smitten is returning to the Lightning ranks after the Christmas break.

“Smitten will be playing with us after the break, that will help us quite a bit,” said Smith.

“That’s a big bonus there. Then we are going to look at a couple of players and see if we can shore up a couple of positions.”

The Lightning have no home games in their first week after the end of the Christmas break.

They will be playing Blackfalds Ford Wranglers on Tuesday, Jan. 4, Ponoka Stampeders on Friday, Jan. 8 and Mountainview Colts on Saturday, Jan. 9.

They play Rimbey Rock again on home ice on Jan. 14.