The St. Albert Crusaders continue their domination of the Northern Alberta Midget AA Hockey League as the team to beat.
The first St. Albert squad in the four-year history of the rebranded Rural and Edmonton league to win the Fountain Tire Cup leads the pack with 35 points with 10 games left until the post-season.
"Our strength is our overall game. When we are at our best we are a tough team to play against," said Ron Laird, head coach of the 16-3-3 Crusaders.
"We definitely have things to work on and our challenge will be to keep improving as the regular season comes to a close then switch our focus to the provincial playdowns and playoffs," Laird added. "Anything can happen in the playoffs but we will be ready to go when playoffs arrive."
The first-place team in Clean Harbors, one of four divisions in the 27-team league, has one less win than the 17-4 Peace River Royals in the Bear Slashing division.
In the 2014 league final the Crusaders beat the Royals 8-2 in the fifth and deciding game in Peace River to finish a season to remember at 50-10-6 overall.
The Crusaders are on pace to exceed last season's 22 wins and 50 points in league play with six returning players – goalie Connor Mckay, defenceman Ryan Laird and forwards' Brendan Bow, Tristan Gavin, Kris Kraychy and Matt Laird – and the addition of forward Brad Holmes from the St. Albert Blues in the lineup.
The Crusaders stormed into the Christmas break as winners of four in a row and are 7-0-1 since their last loss, 3-2 to the Lloydminster Blazers (8-6-5 in Edmonton Kenworth division) Nov. 16 in St. Albert.
"As a coach one of the things I like the most about our team so far is character," Laird said. "One of the characteristics of this team is the never-say-die attitude. We have had different kinds of adversity throughout the year and the team has responded very well."
Three of the league's top-10 point producers are Crusaders. Mattias Neset (51 in 22 games) is No. 2, Gavin (47 in 21 games) is No. 3 and Kraychy (36 in 21 games) is tied for eighth.
The Crusaders are the league's top offensive team with 124 goals, 18 more than the KC Colts (13-5-4 in Inside Edge division).
Kraychy is the team leader in goals with 20, Gavin has 19 and Neset is third with 18, including six on the power play.
"We have a powerful trio of forwards that have been collecting a lot of points however we are playing well as a team and every player has contributed in some fashion. All of our lines are producing at a good pace and I'm pleased with the depth," Laird said. "Our special teams have been very good. Our PK and PP have been effective and they feed off each other. It definitely helps at practice to pitch the units against each other. Steel sharpening steel if you will."
The Crusaders are ranked eighth in goals against at 60 with Mckay (7-2-2, 2.64 GAA and .925 save percentage) and Elliot Saive (8-1-1, 2.76 GAA, .920 save percentage and one shutout) between the pipes.
"Our goaltending has been solid. Our goaltenders' save percentages are near the top of the league," Laird said.
The first game in the new year is Friday against the NEBC & Yukon Trackers (7-10-2 in Bear Slashing) at 8 p.m. at Go Auto Arena.
Monday the Crusaders play the division rival Spruce Grove PAC Saints (9-6-6) at 7:15 p.m. at Grant Fuhr Arena.
Midget AA Blues
The Blues also skate Friday against SSAC Lakewood Chevrolet (7-6-5 in Inside Edge) at 8:45 p.m. at Mark Messier Arena.
The Blues are 11-6-3 for fifth place in the Inside Edge standings after going 2-2 in December following a 7-1 showing in November.
The Blues are led by Jaxon Joseph's 15 goals and 28 points in 20 games.
Bellerose Bulldogs' football player Mitch Kruk recorded 10 goals and 27 points in 19 games, Nathan Durocher added 10 goals and 18 points in 16 games and Jacob Waldbillig has seven goals and 18 points in 20 games.
Keaton Aubin (6-2-1, .917 save percentage) and Thomas Davis (5-4-1, .921 save percentage, one shutout) have an identical 2.74 GAA.
ICE CHIPS: The Blues and Crusaders go head-to-head Feb. 3 at 8:30 p.m. at Mark Messier Arena.
