The Atom ‘A’ Warriors are heading to Provincial ‘B’ Championships in Fairview on March 14-16.
The team earned the provincial berth after beating Calahoo 8-5 on Feb. 24 to claim the two-game series.
“We’ve had a good year,” Warriors’ coach Tate McNelly said. “It was a very competitive league so most of the teams are around that mark. We finished third so we’re right on par with all of the other teams and we’re going to have to work hard for everything we get.”
The Warriors are treating the first round of 1660 league playoffs against Morinville this weekend as a practice for provincials.
With a mere three weeks until the provincials McNelly is focused on succeeding in the playoffs for the right reasons and encouraging “consistency” in his team.
“They’re a good group,” McNelly said. “They want to learn, and if kids want to learn then they’re going to do well.”
And his concept of playing as a team has rubbed off
The Warriors posted 10-9-1 record in league games and won both tournaments they attended this season, but for McNelly coaching the game is about more than just winning.
“At the end of the day you get your goal-scorers, but what wins the games is the little things: working hard and digging for the puck,” he said.
“Those are the things that win games, so I like to give recognition to the kids that do rather that than just score goals and points, and I think that’s why we are successful.”
During provincials last year, the team (previously known as the Atom Selects) lost in the finals.
As a result six of his second year players will get a second crack at provincials this season, while 18 others will get a taste of the limelight for the first time.
“Typically in provincials the stands are packed so the kids are going to experience something like they’ve never experienced before — whether they win or lose,” McNelly said. “You don’t get this opportunity very often so we’re definitely going to take advantage of it.”
