Recent Rocky Rams momentum has slowed to a crawl following a pair of road losses over the January 24 to 26 weekend, as the team prepares for a critical three-game stretch this coming weekend.

On Jan. 24, the Three Hills Thrashers opened the contest with three unanswered goals in the first 21 minutes of play, and never looked back. Despite markers from Rocky’s Jack Smith, Reid Christiansen and Keagan Landry, the Thrashers skated away with a convincing 8-3 victory.

The Rams then played a heartbreaker in Sunday’s make-up road game against the High River Flyers. After finishing the first period facing a 4-1 deficit, the Rams began a would-be comeback, finding their scoring touch starting in the second.

A short handed goal from Keagan Landry and a powerplay goal from defenseman Cole Fox in the third brought the team to within one. Despite 10 minutes remaining in the final frame, the Flyers kept the Rams from scoring and escaped with a 7-6 win.

The High River game was originally scheduled for Nov 1., 2024. However, after playing nine minutes of regulation, an issue with the glass precluded the teams from finishing the game.

Head coach Wendall Mason says the upcoming weekend is a make-or-break situation for the team.

“Our backs are against the wall for a playoff spot right now,” he says. “We have to be relentless, we have to be determined. We have to win.”

The Rams are 12-20-1 on the season, three points back of fifth-place Three Hills in the HJHL’s Northern Division with a game at hand.

The Rams will look to finish off the month of January at .500 with a win against Cannex Cochrane Generals. Puck drop is 8:30 p.m. at the Rocky Arena.

Two more games are scheduled including a road game Saturday against the Mountainview Colts in Didsbury, and a Sunday home matinee against the Red Deer Vipers at 2:30 p.m.