The Innisfail Bantam A Four Lane Flyers are playing their way to a successful season.
They recently squared off against league rival the Foremost Flyers from southern Alberta, winning the game 1-0 on Jan. 16.
The pre-season began in September with several exhibition games before the team jumped into league play in mid-October as one of nine teams in the Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL). The bantam A Four Lane Flyers play at the tier two level in the CAHL division.
“The season has been good. We started fairly strong in tier (play) with a 5-3 record in the first half of the season,” said Aaron Kitzul, head coach for the bantam A Flyers. After a three-week Christmas break the team has returned to league play this January.
“We're very pleased with how the team has played. Currently we sit third in our (tier) division with an 8-3-1 record,” he added, noting a mixed team with one girl (goaltender) and 18 boys for a total of 19 players on the team.
He noted some of the team's strengths that have helped solidify their third- place sitting in the division, including strong goaltending and defence.
“We actually have the lowest goals against average in the league,” he said. “We have a good mix of returning players, second-year kids who played on a different team, and first-year kids who are new to bantam,” he added, noting the veterans' contributions to skill and leadership.
Kitzul noted one area where the team could improve.
“If we struggle in one place it's probably our creativeness on the power play,” he said. “Sometimes I think there's a lot of kids who probably haven't played at this level of hockey before and it just doesn't come naturally.”
At the bantam level players are developing their skills further and learning new aspects of the game, noted Kitzul.
“It's like a second half to a minor hockey career,” he said. “Now the boys are learning how to hit and manage the hit game. That comes with a big, steep learning curve as well.”
In the second half of the season, Kitzul said the Innisfail Bantam A Four Lane Flyers will face some tough competition, particularly with teams from Airdrie and Medicine Hat.
Provincial playdowns for Zone 4 are now underway and began with game one of the first round in Red Deer against the Chiefs on Jan. 20.
“Our second game against Red Deer is at home on Thursday the 28th of January,” said Kitzul, noting a six-week playdown run to make it to the finals.
“If we capture Zone 4 we would then play in a provincial tournament, held in Drumheller in late March,” said Kitzul. “Myself and the coaching staff feel that capturing Zone 4 is a very realistic possibility.”
Game two for the bantam A Flyers is this Thursday, Jan. 28 against the Red Deer Chiefs at the Innisfail Arena. Puck drop is 6:15 p.m.
Aaron Kitzul
"If we capture Zone 4 we would then play in a provincial tournament, held in Drumheller in late March. Myself and the coaching staff feel that capturing Zone 4 is a very realistic possibility."
