Westlock’s Bantam Warriors are headed to Viking this weekend in the hopes of bringing home a provincial championship banner.
Competition at the ‘C” championship runs March 12-15 and Westlock’s pool will include clubs from Ponoka, St. Paul and the hosts.
While coach Desmond Reagan knows he’s got a solid team, he’s not taking any chances.
“I’m big on stats and whatnot and I’ve been researching already and the teams that we are playing,” he said.
“If you go strictly on record we’d be the best, we have the best record of all the teams we are playing against.
“We should fair well but until you get there you don’t know what kind of competition you’re going to get.”
The team has had a stand-out year with a 16-3-1 season and boasts the highest scorer and best goals against in their division.
“We lost the first two games of the year and then we didn’t lose again until late in the season,” Reagan said.
Complicating matters is the team’s successful playoff campaign that saw them through on goals against Onoway and now they’ll face either Stony Plain or Fort Saskatchewan in the semifinal round.
Their continued winning means the team could be looking at having to play five games in a week.
“We have to play in the semifinals and we have to get the series in before we leave,” Reagan said. “I’m hoping we can get one game in tomorrow night (Monday) and then at worst case scenario play Tuesday and have Wednesday off.”
At the start of the season there were hopes the Warriors would be able to field two bantam clubs but that didn’t happen and Reagan and his staff were left with a big group to choose from.
It seems it’s been a blessing in disguise as the extra bodies have meant more depth to the team and created a group that’s able to pick up points all the way down the roster and lines that are able to carry their weight from one to four.
“There was supposed to be an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ team but because of the numbers it didn’t work out so we were one big group,” Reagan said.
“I think we weren’t expected to do very well but the kids have played well and come together as a team.
“I think all of them have improved and we’re excited as there are a lot of kids who haven’t made provincials before.”
Every player on the team has picked up points this season and even goalie Robert Zeise has got an assist.
