DIDSBURY - The Mountainview Colts have had a strong start to their season.
The team has a 7-win, 3-loss, 0-tie record, good for second place in the Heritage Junior B League's Northern Division.
After five straight wins, the Colts finally fell on Saturday in Medicine Hat to the Cubs 4-1.
Rookie Sam Kolke scored the Colts' only goal of the game with a power-play marker with 50 seconds left in the first period to tie the score at 1-1. Unfortunately, just 10 seconds later Desmond Crawford of Medicine Hat scored his second goal of the period to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead.
Logan Robertson scored in the second to put the Hat up 3-1. Crawford then got the hat-trick goal with an empty-netter with three seconds left in the third period.
Griffin Andrews picked up the loss in goal for Mountainview after stopping 32 out of 35 Medicine Hat shots.
On Friday the Colts beat Blackfalds 4-1 at home using a balanced act with goals from Trevor Simpson, Alan Klinck, Kale Wright and Marshal Quartly.
Veteran netminder Ethan Woodward got the win between the pipes for Mountainview stopping 40 of 41 Wrangler shots.
The Colts may have a brand new coaching staff, but the team is getting the job done mainly with veterans on the ice led by leading scorers Alan Klinck and Josh Gette.
New head coach Rob Turville said he's pretty happy with the results for the Colts so far.
"The kids are working hard," said Turville. "Obviously, we had a new coaching staff come in this year. We have a lot to learn about the team and the kids. I think the kids are starting to learn what we're about and what our expectations are. I think everyone is starting to buy in here."
Turville said the team is starting to get into a rhythm on the ice as the players and coaches get to know each other.
The Colts' other two losses on the season have been against undefeated Airdrie 4-2 on Oct. 3 and Okotoks 5-2 in the season opener on Sept. 15. The two teams lead their respective divisions with Airdrie in the north and Okotoks in the Southern Division.
"I don't think we had our best game against Airdrie," he said. "I think we had more to offer but it's positive to know we can compete and battle against a team that's undefeated. Our goal is by the end of the year to be up there with teams like Airdrie and Okotoks."
Turville said he believes the key to the team's future success is the depth and balance the Colts have throughout their lineup.
"The key will be our balanced lineup with four strong lines up front on the forward ranks and three solid defence pairings," he said. "Right now, we're getting really solid goaltending. (Ethan) Woodward really earned his spot as starting goalie out of camp. He's taken the ball and run with it. He's been playing some really good hockey lately."
Turville said that veteran defencemen Corbin Houchin and Trey Wallace are leading the blue line core for the team.
"They're two veterans that have been really steady for us," he said. "We have a couple of younger guys like Laine Rothenbusch and Trevor Simpson who have come in and put up some good points on the back end. The addition of rookie Brandon Rude has been nice as well. He's been up and down with the (Olds Junior A) Grizzlys."
As far as forwards go, Turville mentioned Klinck and Gette as well as Quintin Thorburn as veterans the team is relying on heavily up front.
"Their veteran presence and poise in this league are definitely an asset," he said. "Other guys like Matthew Myatt and Wyatt Gelinas, who we just got back from Junior A (Grande Prairie), will be other weapons we will have here in our holster. That's how we'll be successful: the depth of our team."
Turville said the players are still learning and adapting to the new coaches and new strategies.
"We can always continue to improve our D-zone (defensive zone)," he said. "I think we've implemented possibly a system a lot of kids aren't used to. That's one thing we can continue to work on, our D-zone and neutral zone play. The other thing that will be a key component is our specialty teams: our power play and penalty kill. If we can get those areas rolling, that makes a huge difference."
