Olds' minor hockey teams are off to a good start midway through the 2013-14 season, with most squads sporting winning records throughout the first weeks of the season.
The bantam A team had a 7-0 record heading into the weekend of November 23 and 24, including a 5-0 record during tiering games, placing the team in Tier 1. Coach Daryl Brown said the team is a small, fast group and that the players are showing a lot of enthusiasm.
“We've kind of used that to our advantage this year. We play a really solid defensive style of game and try to be real quick on our transition from defence to offence, simply because our size doesn't allow us to fight big battles,” he said.
The atom girls team was also undefeated at 7-0 heading into the weekend's games. Coach Ray Hoppins said the girls are performing well, having won a tournament in Okotoks on the weekend of November 15 to 17. The team has five girls under the atom age on it, making the undefeated streak even more remarkable.
“(The underage players) are really good skaters. And we've also got some outstanding leaders. Our primary goals are to have fun and improve our skills,” Hoppins said.
Patrick Seely, the atom A coach, said the team has been doing well so far this season, earning a second-place finish in a tournament in Airdrie on the weekend of November 15 to 17. The team had an overall record of 6-4-1 heading into the weekend's games.
“They're really coming together and gelling well. Their work ethic has really helped them,” he said.
Joel Hunter, the midget A coach, said despite a lot of turnover at the end of last season, the young team is getting better with each game. There are only five returning players from last season. Going into the weekend's home opener the team had a 4-1-2 record in tiering games, placing the team in Tier 1.
“We have a lot of new guys so not a lot of new guys know our system when they came. I think a lot of the new guys are starting to get it,” he said.
Trevor Adair, the peewee female coach, said the team has gotten off to a good start this season with a 4-1-1 record, including a 2-1 record in tiering games, placing the team in Tier 2. The team only has 11 girls on it.
“They're trying hard and not giving up. I'm pretty proud of them,” he said, adding that the objective is for the girls to improve their skills and better understand the game.
Dave Turnbull, coach of the midget A female team, said things have gotten off to a good start, with the team ending up in Tier 1 after winning all four of its tiering games. It also finished with a 2-1 record at a tournament in Fort Saskatchewan during the Remembrance Day long weekend.
“As a coaching staff we're pretty pleased with the effort from the girls so far,” he said.
Mike Mashall, coach of the novice A team, said the team is doing well so far this season, ending up in Tier 1 after the tiering games. The team has a 3-1 record so far this season.
“They're a strong team going forward. They're quick, energetic and easy to coach,” he said.
