ODESSA, TX – Yesterday the Ice Wolves played the Odessa Jackalopes in Odessa for their first preseason game. A hard fought game unfortunately ended with an Ice Wolves 2-1 loss.
Being their first game as a team, there is definitely a learning curve to with all new systems and trying to build chemistry as a team on the ice.
After a Jackalopes goal in the first the Ice Wolves came out swinging at the start of the second netting a goal. The tying New Mexico goal came from Michael McCosh with an assist from Connor Kemp. Odessa scored later in the second to take back the lead.
Despite playing hard and fast in the third the Ice Wolves were unable to tie the game back up but between the Ice Wolves goalie, second overall draft pick Josh Graziano, in net and the defense the Ice Wolves were able to shut down Odessa’s offense for the remainder of the game keeping it at 2-1.
Head coach Phil Fox and the team are putting yesterday’s game behind them but learning from the experience all the same. When asked Fox says, “I thought our group was pretty good, especially as the game went on. It was a lot of our players first game of junior hockey. I think they handled themselves well and I look forward to seeing the growth in them as the season goes on. We need to keep getting better and enjoy the process of it.”
The Ice Wolves will play again tonight, September 7th at 7pm. The game will not be broadcast but Ice Wolves fans can look forward to being able to catch all the games on HockeyTV starting September 13th.
Never miss any of the exciting action of home games by getting season tickets and partial season tickets which can be found here.