With 22.4 seconds left in regulation, the Generals were down a goal and desperately needed the tying marker. They called a time out to draw up a play and pulled goaltender Grant Naherniak.
However, the play didn’t work out they way they had hoped and the Yorkton Harvest pulled out a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon at Mosaic Place.
The loss drops the Generals’ record to 11-8-3-0 in Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League action. The team also has only earned four points in their last seven games that their captain Rhett Gardner has missed due to injury.
“We need some leadership. We need a voice. I knew that Rhett Gardner was a pretty good player for us, but I didn’t know he was everything for us,” stated Generals head coach Ray Wareham. “There is nobody in there. They don’t hold each other accountable. Jeremy (Ebbett) and I can only do so much.”
With Gardner out, the Generals have struggled offensively — something this skilled and speedy team should have no issues with this season.
“If your teammates don’t care about what you do, then that’s up to them, but that’s the problem right now…there is no voice. There is just zero leadership,” said Wareham.
On Sunday, the Generals started off strong, as they created chances, were driving to the net and looking for rebounds. They controlled much of the play and outshot the Harvest 11-6. They started the game on the power play as Carson Cayer was in the penalty box for delay of game.
However, they couldn’t capitalize on any of their three man advantages in the opening frame.
Landon Nichol got the Harvest on the board early in the second frame when he blasted a shot from the point that beat Naherniak. Nichol would strike again off a rebound from a Chase McKersie breakaway shot.
The Generals had three great chances on another power play, but couldn’t get the puck past Yorkton’s Spencer Bomboir.
“It is really frustrating right now, but if you don’t have anyone in there willing to step up and take charge to make guys and hold guys accountable, then it is going to be tough to find their way out of this,” he said.
For more on this story, read an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
