By Lorne Starko /
How many kids in minor hockey get a chance to be coached by a former NHL player?
Not many, but that’s the situation with the Red Deer midget AA Canyon Chiefs where Mike Moller is the head coach.
The former right-winger with the Buffalo Sabres and the Edmonton Oilers really likes what he’s got with the team.
Through the first 14 games in the South Central Midget Hockey League, the Chiefs lead the north division with a 10-3-1 record.
“It’s a very competitive league and we’re pleased with our start,” says Moller who is also a former assistant coach with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. “We have 13 players who are playing midget AA hockey for the first time and we only have six players back from last year.
“We’re a young team but we also have lots of growth and potential to get better as the season goes on. We need to execute better on some nights and play a full 60-minute game.”
Balance is what best describes the Chiefs as Moller says they have skill, speed and aren’t afraid of the physical game. When the Chiefs are physical, that seems to be when they
have success.
The club doesn’t have a specific No. 1 goalie because both Curtis Ennis and Cale McBeath have shown they are capable of being the starter and have played really well.
Moller says it’s a nice problem to have.
On defence, the Chiefs have size and good puck movement.
Shane Court is the veteran on the blueline who leads by example and is good offensively and defensively. Justin Pye has shown he’s one of the better defencemen in the league as he hits hard and is a solid skater.
Moller has twin towers on defence in Jay Coleman and Sean Tuff who are tall, big and have great reaches. Bryce Kambeitz and Dean Moller are more defensive defencemen who do a good job of moving the puck and supporting the play and the team relies on them for killing penalties.
Up front, there are good skaters who also like to be physical.
“Kane Gellert and Conner Sibbet have eight goals apiece while Cam Carreau and Ryan Petrie each have seven goals,” notes coach Moller. “Scott Antonsen and Braun Moller, our captain, each have six goals while Trevan Guckert has five of his own.
“You have a bunch of players who are really contributing and we don’t really have one go-to guy. We like to think we’ve got 11 forwards who can all contribute.”
Mike Moller says the Chiefs players are unselfish who pass the puck well and there are a lot of players with a whole bunch of assists.
Chance Engel and Brett Nederloff have key roles as they match up defensively against other teams’ better lines. Moller says the pair often sacrifice some of their offence to be
strong defensively.
“Cody Hagg and Ryan Petrie give us some physical presence up front along with Cam Carreau,” Moller explains. “They make life difficult for opposing defencemen. They hit hard and do a good job on the forecheck and cause turnovers.
“Jarvis Nederloff is one of many skilled players who can score goals off loose pucks and turnovers.”
Moller’s assistants are Justin Jarmolicz and Greg Kellert, two men who he has worked with in hockey for many years. |
