After winning the 2023 championship title, the Cochrane Chaos are looking to repeat history.
“Every year we set out our goal to win the championship,” said head coach Derek Loomer.
Competing in the Alberta Junior Female Hockey League, the Cochrane Chaos represent one of eight teams vying for the 2024 championship title. Currently sitting in first place for the south division, the Cochrane Chaos are hopeful they can build off last year’s success.
Last year the team had a solid group of leaders that helped them grasp the championship title, said Loomer. This year, the team witnessed returning players and new players make up the roster.
“I think the new girls who were recruited, they're just sort of learning the Chaos way,” Loomer said. “I think we're sort of developing it as a team that we were a year ago.”
Despite the new players, the team has seen success on the ice. Currently, the Chaos have won 11 of the 14 games played during the regular season, scoring a total of 58 goals collectively.
Loomer said it doesn’t take much time for the players to know the expectations of the team. He added the returning players help set the bar high.
“We've got a really good group of returning players, and I think they know our culture and know what's expected of everybody,” he said. “As new girls come in, they can look to our returning players and our leadership group and start to adapt.”
According to Loomer, a part of the team’s success is recruiting players who have a desire to continue to play hockey and are excited to be at the rink. From there, they do their best to make practices engaging for the athletes.
Loomer said a major component to building success is helping the players tap into their competitive edge. He added getting used to the strength of the teams this year as opposed to the previous is essential in attaining another championship title.
“We have our schedule. We know what it is from the start of the year,” Loomer said. “It's just making sure the girls are all ready to go.”
Beyond winning the championship, Loomer said another goal for the team is getting all players on the same page and working within their system. He said an effective system helps the team’s growth and overall success.
Being 100 per cent volunteer based, the team relies heavily on sponsorships to provide the players with the best opportunities they can have. He said everyone from parents to the community gives support.
“We want to try and put together a professional experience for them as much as possible,” Loomer said. “We get a lot of help from everyone to make sure that's able to happen.”
