Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
CALGARY – Winding up chasing the game after a slow start, the MacEwan Griffins' Canada West playoff baptism ended in a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Mount Royal University Cougars on Friday night.
They trail the best-of-three Canada West men's hockey quarter-final series 1-0 with Game 2 set for Saturday (7 p.m., Flames Community Arenas).
"It definitely took us too long to find our game," said Griffins head coach Zack Dailey. "We did OK at the end, but at that point, the game was a little bit out of reach.
"I think tomorrow, it's just trying to start the effort early. I think that we need to change a few things from the coaching side so we're putting a little bit more pressure on their D. That's an adjustment we'll make there, but the guys need to find some more juice and be a little bit quicker supporting each other and putting pressure on people."
The Griffins were playing in their first-ever Canada West playoff game against the No. 3-ranked team in U SPORTS, a Cougars squad that finished 23 points ahead of them in the standings.
MRU scored two quick goals at the end of the first period (Josh Tarzwell and Tim Gould) and made it 3-0 in the second when Kurtis Smythe found a loose puck out of a scramble.
"They just are such a great skating team," said Dailey. "They put pressure on you all the time. When you're under pressure, you're probably not making as good of plays as you should. They're just a very fast team who work hard and they're structured.
"So, we're going to have to find a way to make plays under pressure and find a way to match some of their speed and slow them down a little bit."
A positive and historical moment for the Griffins came late in the third period when Ethan Strang scored on the powerplay to notch the first Canada West playoff goal in program history. He snapped Jordan Taupert's pass over Riley Sims' shoulder to break the goalie's shutout.
M��| GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins (@MacEwanGriffins) February 17, 2024
The first @CanadaWest playoff goal in @MacEwanHockey history belongs to Ethan Strang!
Strang's laser late in the contest gets the Griffins within two as they trail @MRUmhockey 3-1 in Game 1 of their QF series.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/DMPlXaRKvK
"He's obviously been the offensive driver for our team and that was a great play," said Dailey. "I really like the play by Taups to give him the puck. I think Taups has been really important for that powerplay unit and for Strang's success on the powerplay, as well.
"Strang got himself in a really good position to shoot and he made a really good shot. We need more of that tomorrow. But I'm very happy with that goal. I thought it was great."
Ashton Abel was the other bright spot for the Griffins, stopping 35 of 38 shots (MRU's fourth goal was an empty-netter) and gave his team a chance. Sims only faced 21 shots on the other end.
M��| UPDATE
— MacEwan Griffins (@MacEwanGriffins) February 17, 2024
Ashton Abel makes one of his 18 saves for @MacEwanHockey so far in a busy first period of their @CanadaWest playoff debut.@MacEwanU trails @MRUmhockey 2-0 through 20 minutes.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/VRJXflOfMN
"That's something that maybe unfairly but has become an expectation for us," said Dailey. "He's someone who's kept us in games all year long, so that is the expectation for him. Do I think he was great? Yeah, I think he was really good and we're happy with his play.
"Hopefully, we can give him a little more help tomorrow, but we're going to need that same effort from him."
Should the Griffins win Game 2 on Saturday, they would force a series deciding Game 3 on Sunday (7 p.m., Flames Community Arenas, all on Canada West TV).
