The Home Hardware Midget AAA Legionnaires got off to a slow start to the Mac's Midget AAA Tournament with a 9-1 loss to the Calgary Buffaloes in their opening game.

"They're a very balanced team - they're good," said Legionnaires head coach Darren Evjen of their Calgary opponent. " We didn't have any push-back for them and they just kept coming. They steam-rolled over us and that's just kind of the way it went."

The Legionnaires were held off the board until captain Owen Ozar scored a wrap-around goal in the third period to, at the time, cut the lead to 7-1.

"Well I think the mood [in the dressing room] was disappointment," Evjen explained. "We have to be better as a group. We just need everybody to pick their game up considerably so that we can get into these games and get playing, because we just didn't have enough of anything in our game."

This is the first time for every Legionnaires player at the high-profile Mac's tournament.

"There's always nerves and that, part of it is a lack of experience we have. But at the same time you've got to be ready to play the game, and play the game in different areas," Evjen added. "You've got to invest in the game and be ready to go. You've got to be physical, you've got to move pucks, you've got to be direct with the puck to get it towards the net. All those things we just lacked."

The Legionnaires' next opponent may prove to be quite similar, as they get set to take on Prince George, B.C.'s Cariboo Cougars.

"They're a very strong team that plays with very good structure and they're very balanced as well," said Evjen. "One guy I talked to today that was a scout said they're a lot like Calgary. We know they'll be good. Anyone that plays in this tournament is a good hockey team - we just need to bring our whole level of game up and that'll give us a chance."

The Legionnaires and Cougars face off at 6:15 p.m. Saskatchewan time in Calgary.