Midget Huskies placed in CAHL Tier 3 South Red after successful seeding round

Huskies' Spencer Dorge taking a shot during game against Fort Macleod

Chris Davis - Pincher Creek's Midget Huskies finished the Central Alberta Hockey League's 2016 tiering round atop the standings and have been placed in the CAHL's Tier 3 South Red.  Their tier also includes Medicine Hat, Lomond, Bow/Island/Foremost, Duchess, and Brooks.  The Huskies lost only one of their 8 tiering round games, that one being their first game against Nanton (an away game).  They defeated Bow Island/Foremost 4-1 on October 30.  They concluded the tiering round with a 4-3 home-ice win against Fort Macleod's Mavericks on November 4 and a 10-3 away win against Picture Butte on November 6.

Photos: Huskies vs Fort Macleod Mavericks

The Huskies have a small 12-man bench this season, which means every injury counts as they go up against better stocked opponents. According to Coach Blair Goodreau the team has dealt with that by "Staying up the whole game. Playing sixty minutes, we kind of take shifts off, but the guys are playing really well."

I spoke to Goodreau after the Huskies narrowly defeated Fort Macleod's Maverick's on Friday evening November 4 at the Memorial Community Centre Arena in Pincher Creek in front of an appreciative home crowd. He said the Huskies didn't have a great start but then "They came back and played good hockey to finish the game. This was probably the best team we've played, so far and the closest game we've had. It's good. The last few games were not as challenging, we need more games like this."

Huskies #21 Spencer Dorge scored twice and picked up an assist in the game against the Mavericks.  Also scoring for the Huskies were #11 Jesson Luco and #7 Hunter Gudmundson.  Also picking up assists were Nic Jordan, Blaine McFarland, Colby Snider, and Josh Conley.  Huskies goalie Tyson Goodreau face 32 shots, letting in only 3.

Goodreau said playing in the larger CAHL league after years in the SPUD league was working out for the team. "I think it's really good, because the whole year is competitive, whereas before we had a couple of competitive games..." and those other games were often not very challenging for the Huskies, with them winning by more than 20 points sometimes. "That's not great for anybody." 

Goodreau said he was pleased overall with the team's performance. "I'm really surprised with how well they are meshing, They're a really good bunch of kids, it's easy for us coaches. We don't have many kids, so they have to work twice as hard. They do a great job, and I'm proud of them."

Of the then upcoming game against Picture Butte, when asked what the challenges might be Goodreau said "I honestly have no idea, but we are going to have to go into it like they are the best team in the world. We are going to have to go and give it our all for 60 minutes, and whatever happens happens. You play hard, and other than that, there's not much you can do." The Huskies won that game 10-3.  Spencer Dorge earned a hat trick and an assist in that game.  #6 Josh Conley also earned a hat trick.  Hunter Gudmundson scored twice and got two assists. #9 Nic Jordan scored once and earned 3 assists. #14 Brant Sabo earned three assists.  #11 Jesson Luco scored once and earned an assist.  #22 Brayden Smith, who was on the injury list for the previous game, earned an assist.

The Huskies will be back at the MCC in Pincher Creek for their first regular season game this Friday November 18, starting at 7:30 pm, when they are scheduled to host Indus again, a team they defeated 9-2 on October 22.  Indus has been placed in Tier 3 South Blue.