The Moose Jaw Generals didn’t get the results that they were looking for in their return to play in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League after a successful trip to the Richmond International Midget Tournament.

Moose Jaw lost a pair of home games to the Tisdale Trojans on the weekend, falling 2-1 on Saturday and 6-2 on Sunday at Mosaic Place.

“We played a good team, Tisdale is a good team. I thought (Saturday) we came out and played a pretty good game, the outcome wasn’t what we wanted it to be, but (Sunday) we just got outworked, we didn’t work hard enough,” said Generals forward Casey McDonald, who finished with a goal and two points in Sunday’s loss.

The Generals finished second at the Richmond Tournament and were hoping to carry that play over to their return to league play in their return this weekend.

Coach Kevin Moore felt like he saw the momentum carry over in Saturday’s close loss, but Sunday’s game saw the team fail to bring a consistent effort.

“We stepped back today,” Moore said. “Saturday, we were right there for most of the game and it could have went either way, but today for whatever reason we didn’t show up, I don’t know if it’s respect or what.”

All the scoring in Saturday’s game came in the third period. Generals captain Nolan Jones opened the scoring 2:05 into the frame, but the Trojans’ Kalen Ukrainetz answered only 1:07 later to tie the game.

A power play goal by Andrew Hawes with 9:18 to play ended up being the difference in the one-goal win for Tisdale.

Moose Jaw was sunk by undisciplined play early and late in Sunday’s four-goal loss. 

In the first period, Luke Arndt opened the scoring for the Trojans 7:02 into the game, but the Generals received a penalty on the goal and Tisdale promptly scored their second goal to take a 2-0 advantage after one.

The Generals battled back with Jaxon Georget scoring a power play goal 6:43 into the second period and then McDonald scored his fourth of the season with 6:36 to go to tie the game at 2-2.

Hawes’ second of the game gave the Trojans a 3-2 lead heading into the third and they never relinquished it.

Moose Jaw Warriors prospect Cade Hayes picked up a power play goal early in the third; Hawes completed the hat trick with an empty net goal with 2:01 remaining; and Colton Schell finished off the scoring in the final minute.

“Our discipline in this game wasn’t good and Tisdale has a good power play, move the puck well, so that didn’t help us out at all,” said McDonald.

The Generals had their chances throughout both games, but Moore added that their scoring troubles showed up, especially on the power play as they went a combined 1-for-8 over the two games.

“We can’t score and that’s been our Achilles heel all year,” he said. “When we get opportunities, power plays, we don’t score and then they come down and put one in our net and we’re chasing.”

The Generals will be back on the ice on Thursday when they host the Swift Current Legionnaires at Mosaic Place. Puck drops at 7 p.m.