By Ryan Laverty /
It’s a sight seen a hundred times by viewers across the country — a hard-hitting Dion Phaneuf finishing his check much to the chagrin of his soon-to-be-hurting opponent.
On Nov. 19, it was little brother’s turn to crack the TSN highlights when 15-year-old Dane Phaneuf of the Southside Athletic Club Boston Pizza Athletics, rubbed out arguably the best female hockey player in the history of the game in Team Canada’s Hayley Wickenheiser and was met with a face wash for his efforts.
“I think they were a little more chippy than probably most people would expect, and I think our guys took exception to a play they made on one of our guys early in the game, and I think that set the tone for the game,” explained Athletics head coach Scott Vokey.
“I would say that Dane probably followed through on his hit a bit more than he needed to, but I wouldn’t say it was too hard of a hit.”
The Women’s National team took more than revenge over Phaneuf and his compatriots, handing the Athletics a 6-1 loss as part of Team Canada’s Olympic tune-up series with the Alberta Midget Hockey League’s best teams.
As if that wasn’t enough retribution for the Canadian squad, the team carried their momentum into their game on Nov. 20 with the Leduc Schwab GM Oil Kings, dealing the North Division’s third-place team a 7-5 loss.
The wins took the National Team’s record to 8-3-0 during this year’s exhibition series and showed the Midget AAA ranks that these girls can play.
“I think it did take some adjustment for our guys to get used to the non-contact, which meant we took a few more penalties than we should of and their powerplay was very potent,” said Vokey. “But I would say that we definitely learned a few things and I think playing them will certainly help us.”
Despite the loss, the Oil Kings have reason for enthusiasm so far this year.
Led by Ryley Bennefield and his 13 goals, Leduc was 9-4-3 at press time, good enough for 21 points and putting them only four back of the first-place Lloydminster Tanroc Bobcats and a single point behind the St. Albert Sports Raiders.
What may be more important however is the Oil Kings’ ability to create separation between themselves and any challengers to home-ice advantage early in the playoffs.
Despite their offensive prowess — one that was exemplified by October’s AMHL player of the month Caleb Belter — the Athletics had fallen off the pace being set by the top three in the North.
With a 6-5-4 record, the Athletics led what is beginning to look like a second tier in the division. With 16 points, the Athletics were one point ahead of the Canadian Athletic Club, but the competition fell off dramatically after that bottoming out with the United Cycle Maple Leafs and the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers, who had only compiled seven and six points respectively.
For more information on the AMHL, visit www.amhl.ab.ca. |
