Cowboys defeated by Kainai in two exhibition games

Cowboys vs Chiefs
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Chris Davis

This weekend the Peigan Cowboys faced rivals the Kainai Chiefs in two back-to-back exhibition games, one at Standoff on Friday, and the other in Pincher Creek on Saturday night, October 8. The Cowboys didn't fare well in either match, losing 16-3 on Friday and losing by a narrower margin of 11-8 on Saturday night.

Saturday's game, October 8, 2011 

The Cowboys have an enthusiastic squad, but they haven't quite gelled yet, made evident by missed passing opportunities and some disorganization throughout Saturday's match. Kainai have their passing play down, and it gave them a definite edge. The Chiefs know how to control the puck, and more importantly how to play as a team. The Cowboys still have some rough spots to iron out in that department, and also suffered from missing key players, a situation that occurred at the beginning of last season as well.
 The first period of Saturday's game was dominated by Kainai, fresh from their previous night's victory. They scored seemingly at will, and were sure to be in the right places at the right times to capitalize on opportunities. The score was 2-5 Kainai at the end of the first.

Things really heated up in the second period, with the Cowboys regrouping and starting to find a groove they could work with. They held Kainai back and scored early in the period. At about the 10 minute mark tempers started flaring, resulting in penalties, fights and expulsions. The refs seem to be taking a low-tolerance attitude towards fighting this season, if this game was any indication. Harold Hourie of the Cowboys squad took a particularly hard hit midway through the second period, after a huge Kainai player collided with him, but shook it off and kept on playing. After the game he told me he "isn't one bit hurt," except perhaps for a bruised ego.  With 11:08 left on the clock Kainai scored a flukey long-shot goal, spanked hard and straight at the distant net from deep inside the Cowboy's end zone and  trickling past the Cowboy's goalie and demoralizing the home-team somewhat. A few minutes later Kainai had two men in the penalty box, an advantage the Cowboys capitalized on somewhat, pulling the score up to 4-6 before Kainai rebounded with an answering goal of their own, ending the period 4-7 Kainai.

In the third period the Cowboys staged a comeback, staying within 2 goals of Kainai throughout most of the period. Around the halfway point Kainai put the pressure on, until, with 6:13 on the clock, the score stood at 6-11 Kainai. The Cowboys rebounded, refusing to be so thoroughly defeated this time out, and managed to bring the balance back up somewhat to 8-11 before running out of steam, and time. The waning minutes of the game were also marred by an odd fight that seemingly sprung out of nowhere while a faceoff was taking place a few feet away.

 Bottom line, these are two very exciting teams to watch, every time they play each other the rivalry is rekindled. Players who thump away at each other on the ice shake hands on their way to exile. There was a lot of back and forth play at Satruday's game, fast paced action that kept the puck zipping from end to end. Both goalies were hard pressed all night, taking many shots, as shown by the relatively high amount of goals.

Stats
Kainai the victor in two exhibition games, 16-3 and 11-8. The Cowboys have some practicing to do before regular season starts.

Upcoming games
Next for the Cowboys, two exhibition games against Nanton before the regular season starts.
Friday, October 14, 2011, 8:30 p.m. @ Nanton, Peigan Cowboys vs Nanton Palominos
Saturday, October 15, 2011, 8:30 p.m. @ Pincher Creek, Nanton Palominos vs Peigan Cowboys

Click here for the Cowboy's 2011-2012 schedule.

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