It isn’t often that you see two teams mingle together at the benches to listen to one coach give a brief talk before game.
Then again, this year’s Bantam B teams in Athabasca are flowing a bit of a new program.
When the AA Bantam program fell through due to a lack of players this season, that left Athabasca Minor Hockey with almost enough players for two teams.
And with the skill ranging from very good to moderate, it was decided the best thing to do was make the teams as evenly matched as possible in order to be fair to everyone.
The lone problem that needed to be addressed was in goal, which necessitated a PeeWee aged goalie joining one of the teams to fill the void.
However, that isn’t what makes this arrangement unique.
It’s the fact that both teams practise together, learning the same skills from one of the assistant coaches, who is lending his talents to teach the players how they can better themselves and possibly reach that next level if they wish.
“So far, I think the whole thing is going quite well,” said Neil Hanzel, head coach of the Athabasca #2 team.
“Brad (Sakowich) has had a kid play at the AAA level and has seen a lot in the way coaches work and teach at that level. He has been running things for the most part and preparing the players for what they can expect as they move higher, whether its to Midget or a higher calibre of hockey next season.”
Hanzel also likes how things seem to be going during games and off the ice as well.
“Everyone seems to be having fun and working as a team, not trying to get at anyone, even after we lost,” he said of Saturday’s game at the Multiplex between the two Bantam teams, which was won 8-3 by white jersey-wearing Athabasca #1 squad.
“As the season goes along, everyone will develop, some maybe slower than other, but we are just trying to keep competitive and have some fun too.”
More results
In other Athabasca Minor Hockey results from the weekend, the Midget AA Bulls took another one on the chin.
The Bulls lost 7-2 on Saturday to the St. Albert Blues.
Lance Kotovich and Rylan Durell scored for the Bulls in the third to claw back within three, but weren’t able to generate any more offence.
The Bulls are home to the St. Albert Crusaders on Saturday. Game time is 6 p.m. at the Multiplex.
Win a pair
The Athabasca PeeWee B squad have rattled off three straight victories to start their season.
After beating Whitecourt on the road 5-3 on Oct. 19, the club easily defeated an over-matched Jasper team at the Multiplex Saturday 11-3 and then did a similar job to Fox Creek, winning by a count of 11-4.
