The Westlock Junior Rock thrashed the Fort Saskatchewan Rebels 7-3 in their pre-season match Friday night.
The Westlock Junior Rock thrashed the Fort Saskatchewan Rebels 7-3 in their pre-season match Friday night.
The game, which was played at the Rotary Spirit Centre, was anything but a warm up, as last season's north-central finalists rekindled old rivalries.
Rock coach Mike Ivey was happy with what he saw.
'It was a really good game," he said. 'It was a great start, for sure, against a team we've battled with quite a bit over the past couple of years.
'Everyone was battling. We had first year junior players and they stepped up and got right in there."
It was a hotly contested affair with both teams going close to, or over, 50 penalty minutes.
'It was a pretty high-penalty game for sure, but it's always going to be like that against those guys, they play tough," Ivey said.
Westlock scored in all three periods and were supported by a strong defensive line and excellent goaltending.
Daneel Lategan and Jordan Boulerice both netted two goals and an assist in the win.
'I like that we're going to be a team that can score goals, as we have an unbelievable goaltender in Troy Desranleau, who held us in there and he's been big for us for the last two years," Ivey said. 'If we can put a few in, he can shut the door."
Ivey thinks that the team's good early showing bodes well for the season ahead.
'We're looking forward to a good year," he said. 'We've been very successful in the past couple of years and we want to continue that success.
'We have a young team and I can see us having a very good year as a coach and with a bunch of winners like we have."
The team's regular season gets underway on Saturday, April 25 at 4:30 p.m. when they take on Lloydminster Xtreme at the Spirit Centre.
