Bring it.
That’s the message delivered by the Bow Valley Timberwolves midget hockey team for the 2014-15 Central Alberta Midget AA Hockey League (SCAHL) season.
Now coached by a triumvirate former Cochrane Generals players, the Cochrane-based team boasts several returnees and a bevy of fresh faces rolling out this season. All were skating in a final practice session at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre Sept. 25 before taking to the road for a season-opening, two-game swing through southern Alberta. The Timberwolves earned a split, defeating Medicine Hat Venom 4-1 Sept. 27 before losing 6-2 to Taber Golden Suns Sept. 28.
Bow Valley’s home-opener goes Oct. 4 against Calgary Royals Blue.
“We’re all really excited to get going,” said coach Kris Keller, who shares coaching duties with fellow coaching returnee Kashtin Gordon and newly aged-out Cochrane Generals forward Tyson Soloski.
“It’s a blast,” said Soloski, an assistant coach in his first season behind the bench with the Timberwolves. Keller and Gordon are in their second season coaching the midget Timberwolves, and played alongside Soloski two seasons ago with the Gens. “We look really good,” Soloski continued. “We really like the players we have right now.”
While the coaching staff like the players they have, they could use a few more. By the time they hit the ice in Taber, the Timberwolves had 12 skaters dressed in the league for 14/15-year-old players. Training-camp and season-opening injuries have exposed the teams lack of depth early in the season.
The team also lost players Brad Bergshoeff and Slater Ransom to the Jr. B Generals, while last year’s starting goalie Ryan Ternes has moved on to Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Lloydminster Bobcats.
Still, the Timberwolves are optimistic.
“I definitely like what I’m seeing from the team so far,” said coach Kris Keller. “We have great size this year.”
That should jolt some fillings loose on the opposition.
“It’s going to be a bit more of a physical game this year,” Gordon speculated. “The biggest thing that came out of camp this year was the vets who did come back really stepped up their game. They look a lot more confident, a little bigger and a little stronger.”
Noah Bigland is back on defence and other returning vets include Devon Latchuk, Marshall van Iderstine, Ty Milligan and Colton Wong.
