DIDSBURY — With the Mountain View Colts entering the final stretch of the 2021-22 Heritage Junior B Hockey League season, the squad is playing very well together at just the right time, says second-year team captain Laine Rothenbusch.
Now in his fifth and final season with the Colts, Rothenbusch, 21, says the team is performing well both offensively and defensively with seven regular season games remaining.
“We are doing well and heading in the right direction,” said Rothenbusch, a 6-foot, 220-pound defenceman who lives in Didsbury. “It’s all coming together and it’s a good time for that to happen.
“It think everyone is just buying into what the coaches are telling us to do and working hard, coming to the rink ready to work in practices and being ready to go at game time.
“We won five out of six in December, so that’s good and we hope to keep that going in the new year. They are all important games, very important games coming up.”
On the offensive side, the team has some excellent depth this season, he said.
“Our forward lineup is super deep,” he said. “We’ve got guys on our third and fourth lines that would probably be on first or second lines on other teams in the league.”
As for the defensive side, he said, “Everyone is pulling their weight on the back end. It’s all been going well.”
The team’s net minding has been one of the squad's strong points throughout the season, he said.
“Chance Griffith has been playing unreal and Isaac Klassen has been coming in when he gets the change and holding his own,” he said. “Chance is probably one of the top goalies in the league. He has won us a lot of games this year.”
The coaching staff, led by head coach Gord Olsen, has been providing great leadership throughout the season, he said.
“The coaches have been great,” he said. “They expect everyone to work hard and he is always there to help and he wants the best for everyone.”
Assistant coaches Dan Visser and Kelvin Knutson “are always there for us and they know the game very well,” he said.
For his part, Olsen calls Rothenbusch a valuable team leader.
“He’s an important part of our lineup and a good captain,” the head coach said.
Rothenbusch has been dealing with a lower body injury in recent weeks, but last week resumed team play.
Rothenbusch attended Olds College for sports management business. With the 2021-22 season being his last with the Colts, he says his plans going forward might include coaching hockey.
Asked if those plans include coaching with the Colts someday, he said, “I think that is probably something I may do in the next couple years.”
