The novice Huskies were happy to hit the ice during the team's recent annual tournament.
“We had a good turnout,” said Coach Dallas Rosevear, referring to the eight teams including the local squad that faced off at the Sundre Arena on Nov. 12-13.
“The kids had lots of fun.”
And along the way, the event raised some funds, the majority of which go to the Sundre Minor Hockey Association, with a portion also being allocated to help cover travel expenses as well as a year-end celebration following the season, he said.
About $2,000 was raised, which was just a little shy of average, said Lindsay Lyle, the team's manager. During the prolonged slump in the price of oil, some industry-related companies seemed to be more reserved this year, but there were still some sponsors that contributed to the event's success, she added.
“All things considered, it worked out well.”
The first game, played early on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 12, was an uphill battle against Rocky Mountain House, which won 11-2. Later that afternoon, the Huskies faced off against Cremona, giving that team a run for its money during a close, hard-fought game that saw the visitors edge out a 6-5 victory. The local squad's third and final game was played Sunday, Nov. 13 when it managed to maintain momentum against Carstairs to win 7-5. Sylvan Lake won the tournament, she said.
Meanwhile, the team's regular season in the Central Alberta Hockey League got underway over the weekend following the end of tiering rounds, and the Huskies played at home on Saturday as well as on the road to Nanton on Sunday, said Rosevear.
The squad has shown strength in positioning and passing, so coaching staff are more focused on improving the team's conditioning and power skating as the team progresses, he said.
