The Sundre atom B Huskies are leading in the North Central Minor Hockey Association.
They played on home ice against Ponoka Calnash Trucking on Saturday and won 6-4, and were on the road against the Sylvan Lake atom B1 Lakers on Sunday, against whom they lost 5-4.
"They played the third period really well," but got their momentum too late in the game against Sylvan Lake, said Huskies coach Perry Smeets.
"They need to lose a game periodically, just to bring them back down to earth."
A team can't always win, and being defeated offers its own lessons in sportsmanship and losing gracefully, he said.
The Huskies have been developing their teamwork and have also become more consistent. Their skating and passing abilities have also improved, he said, adding they're reading the ice better to look and see where players are.
Coaching staff are focused on repetitiveness during practices.
"Repetition is key at that age," he said, adding that as the players' muscle and brain memory builds up, their reactions become second nature.
Overall, the team's season is coming along well, the coach said.
Aside from being first in the league, the Huskies also have the top scorer, Ryan Rosevear, and goalies placed in second, Jaxson Schmaltz, and fourth, Jacob Bowlen, he said.
The local team is hosting a tournament on home ice starting this Friday at 7 p.m., when they face off against the Red Deer Fargey's. Games continue until Sunday, when the final starts at 4 p.m.
