SJHL Klippers struggling on the road

By Jordan Parker

A four-game road trip is a formidable task for any team, but the SJHL Iron Horse Kindersley Klippers had something to prove.

Following their last home game – a 3-2 shootout loss to Nipawin – Assistant Coach Tyler Traptow was clear the team needed to solve their issues playing on the road.

Halfway through their trip, it appeared they had things readily in-hand.

“The Weyburn game didn’t go our way. We played 40 minutes really well, then took 10 minutes off,” said Traptow of the 6-4 loss on January 24, 2023.

The Klippers led 3-1 after the first period, and fronted a scoreless second frame. However, Weyburn scored five goals in the third, including a short-handed go-ahead, to take the game.

“They tied the game, and got another goal. They ended up winning because we didn’t play a full game, and bad things happen when you don’t,” he said.

The next game, a 6-2 trouncing of Notre Dame by the Klippers, went much better for the team. Tylin Hilbig and Logan Linklater notched two goals and two assists each. “The guys put up points, and it was a good game to get. We’ve played them three times, so we knew what we were getting. We rolled through the game hard,” he said.

Traptow is happy so far with the way the team has picked up things away from Kindersley.

“It’s no secret we haven’t been good enough on the road. We even played well in Weyburn except the last period,” he said. “It’s nice to see success coming, and momentum starting.”

One huge reason for the success is the resurgence of Tylin Hilbig and Linklater, who have found themselves firing on all cylinders lately.

“It’s huge to see. They both had huge success last year, but it took some time this year. But this just seems like the floodgates are opening,” he said.

Linklater had played 12 games at the time of writing, with 14 points – five in his last two games. Hilbig had 18 points in 37 games, with eight points in eight games. He has notched six points in the last two games.

Klippers Captain Brayden Koch – fresh off his commitment to UAA – is happy with the team’s play lately.

“The last six games of seven, we’ve played really solid. We’ve done well against Battleford, Flin Flon and other teams. We just need to keep building on it,” he said.

“It was great to get a break, especially with the guys out injured. It’s nice to see more guys coming back and things becoming easier.”

He says the team played well Tuesday against Weyburn, even though the result wasn’t what they wanted.

“We blew the lead, but then that 6-2 game against Notre Dame got us two big points,” he said. “We just need to keep making statements with the games we play.”

The Klippers were in Wilcox on Friday for a rematch with Notre Dame and lost 5-1. Saturday saw them on the road against the Weyburn Redwings where they were defeated 7-1.

Saturday’s contest also marked the 100th SJHL game for Aidan Bangs.