By / Ryan Laverty
If your in the neighbourhood and in the mood for an knock ’em down, drag ’em out grudge match type of hockey game on Jan. 31, you may want to find a spot at the Tri Leisure Centre in Spruce Grove.
With playoffs just around the corner, fans of the Alberta Minor Midget AAA Hockey League will be treated to a preview of what could be the league final between the first-place St. Albert Super Grip Flyers and the scorching hot PAC Timberwolves.
“I’d like to say they’re just another team, but they’re a rival, for sure,” said Flyers head coach Rick Thomsen. “It comes up from the Bantam level where these guys are always competing, so definitely we want to beat them.”
While sniper Colten Mayor has filled the scoresheet most effectively and goalie Liam Liston has been the best in the business at stymieing Mayor’s peers, it has been the Flyers’ depth that has been most impressive this season. St. Albert has led the AMMHL from the outset this season, posting a sparkling 22-2-4 record at press time.
Of course, the Timberwolves haven’t exactly been slouches in the depth department either. Led by a pair of solid puckstoppers in Michael Brown and Zachary Picton, and scorers Brady Goebel and Shane Brolly, the second-place PAC has gone a perfect 8-0 since before Christmas and sat only six points back of the Flyers heading into their third and final match-up of the regular season.
“These kids know each other by first and last name and they are the only team we haven’t beaten this year so, for sure, our kids want to win,” said Timberwolves head coach Marc Kronewitt. “I think we’ve improved a lot since the last time we played them, so I think people are going to see a very ?competitive game.”
Kronewitt certainly wasn’t getting any debate on that point from his St. Albert counterpart.
“We’re looking to send a message this week,” said Thomsen. “We want them to know that if they want to win anything this year, they’re going to have to come through us.” |