OLDS — A recent trade and improved defensive play have improved the Olds Grizzlys so much that assistant coach Pete deGraaf says they could even make the playoffs.
That’s despite the fact the team currently sits dead last in the eight-team Viterra South Division of the Alberta Junior Hockey League with five wins, 29 losses and three overtime losses for 13 points in 37 games.
It’s worth noting that the Grizzlys roster has a lot of rookies on it.
The team's next game is Tuesday, Jan. 4 when they host the Drumheller Dragons. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the Sportsplex.
DeGraaf says goalie Jared Whale and Liam Hughes, acquired from the league-leading Brooks Bandits in a Dec. 2 trade, have fit in so well that he believes the team has a good chance to not only make the playoffs, but compete if they get there.
Noah Hackett and Josh Zinger, captain and assistant captain of the Grizzlys, went the other way in the trade. Future considerations were also part of the deal for the Grizzlys.
“Whale has really solidified the goaltending position,” deGraaf said during an interview, adding that the team is playing with noticeably more confidence with Whale in net.
DeGraaf said the team has also really cracked down on its play in front of the net because they’ve noticed that loose play there has resulted in several goals and good scoring chances.
Up front, he said, Grizzlys forwards are a definite threat.
DeGraaf said rookie forward August Olson of Trochu is one of the most improved Grizzlys this year.
“He’s played hard and well,” deGraaf said. “He’s made Trochu proud.”
DeGraaf said a narrow 3-2 loss to the Bandits Dec. 17 shows how much the team has improved.
But they’ll have their work cut out for them during that matchup with the Drumheller Dragons Tuesday night.
The Dragons are ranked third in the Viterra South Division with 22 wins, 11 losses and three overtime losses in 36 games. They hammered the Grizzlys 7-2 in Drumheller on Dec. 4.
