The Bow Valley Timberwolves Midget AA team continued their blistering start to the season with a pair of victories on Oct. 14 and 15 to improve their record to 6-0 on the season.
The Timberwolves defeated the Taber Golden Suns 4-1 on Oct. 14 … The Suns scored the first goal of the game on the power play less than four minutes into the game, but Bow Valley took over from there, scoring four unanswered goals.
Forward Dean Olenyk led the way offensively for the T-Wolves with a goal and an assist, while Vance Wesley, Jack Fairfield and Keenan McElroy also tallied for the Timberwolves. Goaltender Alek Halwas was solid in goal, turning away 23 of the 24 shots he faced.
In the Timberwolves Oct. 15 game against the Medicine Hat Can Pak Environmental Hounds, Bow Valley once again came away with a victory, taking the game 6-3.
The game was tied at two midway through the second period, before Ty Parker and Takuro Okada scored 28 seconds apart within the final minute of the period and Jack Fairfield scored a shorthanded goal early in the third to put the game away.
Fairfield and McElroy both had a goal and an assist for the Timberwolves, and Antoine Leclerc made 28 saves on 31 shots.
Timberwolves head coach Tyson Soloski was really impressed with how his team played from start to finish over the duration of the two games.
“I thought we have played hard every game and are continuing to improve and get better each and every week … I think we are getting contributions from everyone, from our goaltenders out and that is why we’re successful right now,” Soloski said.
“This weekend was no different and we battled hard and executed our game plan for the majority of both games. The kids are competing every shift and it’s going a long way right now.”
Even with the undefeated record, Soloski says there are still things for his team to work on moving forward.
“I think we need to improve on playing a full 60 minutes. Both games this weekend we let up a bit in the third period … taking more penalties and letting team’s back into the game a little bit,” Soloski said.
“So knowing we have to play a more complete game is something we as coaches are really stressing right now. Our power play needs to be improved as well; we’ve seen signs of greatness but the little details are not quite there right now to be successful. Things like breaking out to the proper side, tape to tape passes and traffic in front of the net are areas we will focus on in practice and continue to improve.”
Bow Valley is looking to continue their winning ways when they take on the 2-0 CBHA Rangers on Oct. 18. Timberwolves assistant captain Kyle Lappin says the Rangers will present a good hurdle for his team.
“Playing them last year, they were a really tough team… and as a defenceman, they have a hard fore check,” Lappin said.
“We will need to play a full 60 minutes in order to compete with them.”
The T-Wolves will return home on Oct. 20 to play the Airdrie Lightning at the Cochrane Arena with puck drop going at 7:30.
