The last time Greg Schmidt coached the Steelers they swept all before them, thrilling the Agrena crowds with their battling performances.
Well, almost all.
Their stellar season ended with a heartbreaking loss to Fort Saskatchewan Rangers in the best-of-five Northern Alberta Midget AA Hockey League final series. That was in April, 2012.
Fast forward to October, 2013 and Schmidt is again a coach, this time helping out head coach Jason Murrell. The Steelers, of course, are now competing in the 1660 Hockey League, along with other Barrhead teams.
While a repeat of 2011-12 is a tough ask, Schmidt has already seen plenty of promise from his young charges in pre-season warm ups.
“We have been skating for two weeks in Westlock,” he said last Friday. “I would say we’ve had five skates together. They look like a good bunch of kids.”
He was speaking on the eve of the Steelers’ first pre-season game – against Fort Saskatchewan. Such games give coaches a chance to assess strengths and weaknesses and see how they can tweak the system.
Schmidt and Murrell must have liked what they saw.
The game turned into a rout, with the Steelers banging in eight goals against the Fort, who managed a consolation strike in the third period.
The performance underlined the confidence Schmidt has in his Midget team. It also gave the Agrena crowd plenty to shout about.
Hopefully it will encourage big home crowds this season.
“I certainly hope so,” said Schmidt.
The Steelers have something of a new look from last season, thanks to an influx of players from the Bantam division, including Zak Laun, Danny Dekker, Declan Kummer, Brad Bujold, Logan Branden and Dylen Starman.
Schmidt believes Tier 2 – the same as last season – would be a realistic target for the Steelers.
“It’s quite a big jump for the boys coming up from the Bantams,” he said.
