Devost proud of effort after loss to NAIT
EDMONTON, ALTA., (Nov. 9, 2018) — Sometimes you played great and lose. That's the message SAIT Trojans men's hockey coach Brent Devost had for his players Friday night.
Despite a strong effort, the Trojans fell 4-3 to the host NAIT Ooks in their Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) contest played in the province's capital.
"NAIT came out really hard and I don't think we were as prepared for that as we needed to be. We need to work on that," said Devost. "But, once we settled in after the 12-minute mark of the first, I felt like we started to control the game. . . We put together a great game, overall."
SAIT falls to 6-3 on the year, while NAIT improves to that same mark.
NAIT led 2-0 after the first period thanks to goals from Dylan Stewart and Tanner Dunkle. SAIT had a couple of great chances of their own in the period, but failed to cash on them.
"As a coaching staff, you're always trying to find ways to get your team going, and we'll address it," Devost added. "We'll talk about it and try figure out what the bee in our bonnet is, but like I said, I was proud of the effort I got tonight."
SAIT finally cut the lead in half in the second period when Dean Allison (4th year, Surrey, BC, Bachelor of Business Administration) scored just under six minutes in.
NAIT restored their two-goal lead just 15 seconds later when Issac Farrah beat Trojans goalie Payton Lee (2nd year, Cranbrook, BC, Power and Process Operations).
The Trojans found a way to cut the lead to one before the end of the middle frame when Zach McNeill (2nd year, Calgary, Business Administration) potted one.
But again, NAIT found a way to extend their lead in the third period thanks to Brandon Ralph.
Parker Evans-Campbell (3rd year, High River, Alta, Bachelor of Business Administration) scored SAIT's final goal of the game, but that would be it.
Devost loved the way his team battled, and hopes his team continues that trend tomorrow night back at home when they host the Ooks in a 7pm start.
"I told the guys that we need to shore things up early in the game, but if we continue to play the way we did the rest of the way, we're going to be successful more times than not," he said.
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