AAA Stars lose key games to Maulers

“At times, we played really well, with intensity. At times, we played really well without the puck but we don’t do enough of it. We give pucks away and we don’t attack puck carriers. That’s our problem.”

Adam Beckman and Mackenzie Donovan had the lone goals on the weekend for Battlefords, both of which came on the power play.

Johnston was behind the bench for the first time at home this weekend after replacing Jean Fauchon last Thursday in Prince Albert. The Stars lost 9-1.

The weekend was an improvement on that lopsided score, but after being outshot 46-21 to Yorkton in Sunday’s game, Johnston said the club’s biggest problem is not being able to get out of their own zone.

“Our breakout right now, if they put pressure on us, we turn pucks over,” he said. “Every time we turn the puck over, they get three or four shots on us.’

“As soon as we turn the puck over we don’t come back quick enough.”

He wants to establish a greater work ethic among his players, which was something Fauchon was also trying to do.

“The Saskatchewan AAA midget league is basically the dump and chase league,” Johnston said. “The skilled players work hard inside the offensive zone to move pucks and score. But they get the puck inside the offensive zone [and] you’ve got to compete to get it there.

“We’ve got the defensive zone to work on, the neutral zone to work on and the offensive zone to work on. So we’re a little busy.”

One area of improvement so far has been discipline, an issue that has plagued the team all season.

They have been shorthanded five times in each of the last three games, which is down from their season average.

“We are playing with better discipline,” he said. “We aren’t hacking and whacking people, [we’re] not getting frustrated. They are doing a better job.”

The Stars are right back at it at home on Tuesday when they see the Prince Albert Mintos again, who are in fifth place.

Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.

by Nathan Kanter

AAA Stars lose key games to Maulers

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