Despite losing out to the Brooks Bandits in the Alberta Junior Hockey League semifinals, the 2011-12 season was a relatively good one for the Olds Grizzlys, advancing to the third round of the playoffs, reflected Brett Hopfe, the team's head coach, after the team's season ended with a 3-0 loss on March 27.
The team had a few peaks and valleys, going on a 12-game losing streak from the end of October through mid-December. The team then improved after the Christmas break, going on a seven-game winning streak in January, before limping into the playoffs with only three wins in its last 10 games. Once the playoffs began, however, the team battled hard and beat both the Calgary Mustangs and Okotoks Oilers in consecutive series – teams that finished 20 and 24 points respectively ahead of the Grizzlys.
“The guys came together as a team. That was our goal from Day 1 was to have the guys battle and compete for each other and they really did. We overcame some obstacles that no one in the world would think that we'd overcome and to be able to end up where we're at right now, looking back at Christmastime, I'd take it. But … it's not fun to lose and it's not something we were planning on doing, so from that aspect, it's pretty disappointing,” he said.
Looking ahead to next season, there will be a few open spots with players finishing their junior eligibility, but Hopfe said he is hopeful there will be a lot of competition at training camp to field the best team possible.
“Next year's looking promising for us. Right now, we're just going to digest what went on here this last week and then go from there,” he said.
"We overcame some obstacles that no-one in the world would think that we'd overcome and to be able to end up where we're at right now, looking back at Christmas-time, I'd take it."Brett Hopfe, head coach, Olds Grizzlys
