DIDSBURY - With 10 games left in the season, the Mountainview Colts are in third place in the Heritage League's North Division, several games back of second-place Red Deer.
For head coach Rob Turville and his staff, their first season of coaching junior B hockey after many years at the minor hockey level is going well but there is definite room to improve.
"Overall I think we can be pretty happy with the first part of the season," said Turville. "As a coach you always expect more and want to set goals to try and achieve. I think there has been a few times when we've had some letdowns through the season but that goes with any season."
Turville said the coach and players now have a pretty good idea of what needs to be worked on for the team to improve.
"There are definitely some things we want to work on and improve to get to where we want to be for the second part of the season," he said. "But I think we have a lot more to give. It's good not to peak too early."
Turville said defensive zone play is one area the team needs to improve.
"D-zone play is something we can always work on," he said. "As well, power play and penalty are two areas we want to have a good grasp on going into the new year. Little things that have been hurting us later are bearing down on pucks, get stronger on the puck."
Turville said turnovers was one of the main reasons they lost to second-place Red Deer in an important game from Dec. 15.
"When you can't get pucks out, or you're turning pucks over in the neutral zone -- even turnovers in the offensive zone," he said. "Against good teams like Red Deer it gives them opportunities. Teams like that will capitalize on those. Turnovers are a big one. It goes back to keeping it simple and bearing down on the little things."
Turville said the team is getting strong play from veterans such as top scorers Josh Gette and Alan Klinck. Both were recently named to the Heritage League All-Star game, as were Colts defencemen Corbin Houchin and Trey Wallace, and goaltender Ethan Woodward.
"Ethan has really been the backbone of our team," he said. "He's been very solid back there. Houchin and Wallace are two veteran defencemen; both very poised back there and very well deserving of their nomination."
The Colts recently added a couple of players in defenceman Travis Gerrard from Saskatchewan and forward Mitch Visser from the Junior A Olds Grizzlys. Visser, a Didsbury native, played with the Colts the past two seasons.
"We may have a few roster decisions to make," said Turville. "We have our January 10 deadline coming up. Right now we're not required to make a decision but we'll see. Right now we're sitting with 23 players on cards. That's what we're allowed but you never know. You're consistently getting emails especially before the deadline from players looking to go somewhere last minute. We'll see what happens."
Turville said he and his assistants are still learning the process for carding players and moving players around. He said overall the adjustment from coaching Bantam rep hockey in Olds to Junior B has been challenging but enjoyable.
"It's been good," he said. "Us coaches have enjoyed the transition. The coaching aspect has been really fun. There have been some challenges but you want that as a coach so you can push these kids more and more. The administration side is probably where we're lacking and still need quite a bit of learning coming from minor hockey where player movement isn't as evident."
