By / Ryan Laverty
Would he like to win every game? Sure, what coach wouldn’t? But that doesn’t mean Whitemud West Warriors coach Dallas Wolansky is putting any thing close to that expectation on his rookie-laden Atom 1 team this year.
Despite directing one of the most successful Novice 1 teams in the province a year ago, Wolansky hasn’t let history distort his view of the future for his new squad. Yet, three games into Federation Hockey’s first round of the season, the old formula is yielding strikingly similar results.
The Warriors were 1-1-1 at press time, good enough for third overall in the 11-team Atom (1) Canadians Division.
“The players we have on this team are very passionate about the game,” Wolansky described. “They’ve all shown up to practices ready to work and have done what we’ve asked of them to the best of their abilities and really that’s all we, as coaches, can ask of them.”
Last year, with virtually an entire roster of second-year Novices on his bench, individual talent was enough to carry the Warriors through most contests, but with five first-year Atoms on his squad including goalie Spencer Campbell, Wolansky said he knew team play would be integral if the Warriors were going to have success this season.
That said, the coach has been thoroughly impressed with his 1999-born crew, noting that Campbell’s save percentage and goals against average have been outstanding thus far.
“Would we love to win Minor Hockey Week and have a chance at City’s? Of course we would, but that’s really not our goal this year,” said Wolansky. “Our goal is to develop these players and to play as a team because at this level you can’t compete if you’re just a bunch of individuals. If every player supports their teammates I know we can compete and right now we’re on the right track.”
Likewise, the Northeast Eagles have found the right track in the early going, jumping out to a first-place standing in the Canadians division with a 2-0-1 record at press time.
Other Atom Division leaders at press time are as follows: Maple Leafs, Northeast Northstars; Oilers, SWAT 653; Flames, MW Griffins; Canucks, North Seera 473; Senators, Northeast Eagles 209; Coyotes, MW Chargers; Devils, Northeast Eagles; Capitals, SAZ726; Flyers, MW Warriors; Blues, Whitemud West; Mighty Ducks, Brave Raiders. |
