Sun Devils drop final home game of regular season

By Ryan McCracken on June 18, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

The Medicine Hat Sun Devils closed the book on their home campaign with a frustrating 10-6 loss to the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League-best High River Heat in Tier 2 junior B action Saturday at the Kinplex.

The loss left Sun Devils forward Zach Wilson wanting more, but he says the effort is still something to build on with just two games left before playoffs arrive.

“I think we played tough against them, but we definitely need to work on our defence a little bit,”said Wilson, whose Sun Devils slipped to 9-6 with the loss. “I think our offence played pretty well. We definitely need to work on our transition up the floor, we lost the ball a few times there but it was good that we kept in the game with them.It shows we can play with one of the best teams out there.”

The Sun Devils managed to keep things within striking distance until the final moments of the third period — when High River broke the game open with a pair of goals to lock up the victory.

Wilson added goaltender Nate Thomas was a key factor in Medicine Hat’s ability to keep the game close down the stretch.

“Nate played amazing. He really stood on his head, good thing he was in there,”said Wilson. “It’s his fifth year and in the off-season he was training a lot this year. He’s great for us back there. He kept us in this game, for sure, and he’s kept us in a lot of games this season.”

Wilson led the Sun Devils with three goals and an assist in the setback, while Aidan McLean added a goal and an assist and Tegan Rogal and Aidan Usher rounded out the scoring with individual markers.

Devon Caithcart led the Heat with three goals and an assist, while Dawson Caithcart added two goals and a helper and Colby Goldthorpe had a pair of tallies to help push High River to 12-1 on the year.

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