Things are looking up for the St. Albert Merchants. Five wins in six games have The Blue Guys on top in the west division standings of the Capital Junior B Hockey League. “I didn't know how our team was looking coming into the year but our D is playing together, we’re scoring goals and our goalies are playing great so we’ve definitely got all the right pieces to make some noise this year,” said left-winger Matt Havens. “We’re a little more well rounded.” It all starts in the back end for the Merchants with tighter structure after the team’s goals-against average ballooned to 4.55 during a ho-hum 18-16-4 campaign while outscored by a margin of 173-147 in the regular season. “We’ve got some new D. (Mark) Matsuba has helped us out a lot. He definitely adds a presence back there,” Havens said of the former Western Hockey League defenceman with the Brandon Wheat Kings (10 points in 86 games from 2014 to 2016). After six games, the team’s GAA is a sparkling 2.50 with Ethan Crotty, a returnee between the pipes, and Brandon Boughen benefiting from a stronger blueline presence and more commitment by the forwards on the backcheck. Crotty is 4-1 with a nifty .926 save percentage after posting a 7-9 record, 4.38 GAA and .884 save percentage in his first junior B season. Crotty faced a game-high 35 shots in the 4-2 loss against the Edmonton Royals 4-2) Sunday at Coronation Arena. The Merchants were outshot 14-3 in the third period as the Royals tallied twice during a 50-second span early in the frame to snap a 2-2 deadlock. Brendan Passek knotted it at one on the power play in the second and Jack Langenhahn evened it at two halfway through the period. “We were just sloppy. We weren't focused enough and not ready to play,” Havens said of the team’s first loss. “We thought teams would give us respect looking at our record but it was kind of the other way around. Of course when we have an undefeated record like that each team that we’re playing each night is looking to beat us.” Friday the Merchants mustered 25 shots after scoring seven times at even strength on 31 shots in the 7-1 victory against the Stony Plain Flyers (3-5) at Glenn Hall Centennial Arena. It was 1-1 after the opening period as Crotty, who posted 22 saves, picked up an assist on Sam Milner’s marker. “After that we came out and pucks kept going in,” Havens said. “We kept our foot on the gas and didn’t stop playing and played until the end. We’ve got to look to do that every night.” Adrian Parth, Milner, Cam Mazur and Matsuba scored in that order in the second and Peter Corrigan and Mazur closed it out in the third. Milner and Corrigan finished with three points apiece and Langenhahn had two helpers. Langenhahn and Corrigan are newcomers from the midget AAA St. Albert Tire Warehouse Raiders. “Our scoring is a little bit more well rounded this year,” said Havens, who skates on a dangerous line combination with Passek at centre and Mazur. “The new guys we’ve got and the younger guys have taken a load off our line. It’s not as heavily relied on when it comes to putting pucks in the net this year so that’s good.” Mazur leads the Merchants in goals with four and Passek and Havens have each compiled a team-high nine points. Mazur and Langehahn also have eight points apiece. “We just know where each are out there,” Havens said of the terrific trio. “Mazur's got a pretty good shot so me and Passek definitely look to get him the puck. “Passek is really good in tight around the net. He's always there picking up rebounds. “I’m just looking to get the puck to those guys and then when I can I’m finding the back of the net myself.” Havens, 20, was money in the bank offensively last season with 25 goals, including seven on the power play, and 59 points, which was eighth best in the CJHL. The junior B career totals for the former Battlefords North Star in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey league are 60 goals, with 16 on the power play, and 143 points in 86 league and playoff games. The third-year Merchant is also an over-age player with Passek, Chris Motoska and defenceman Mike Bruni. “I’m not too worried about individual points or stats,” said Havens, a business student at MacEwan University and St. Albert Catholic High School graduate. “I definitely got to work on my defensive game to help the team out a little more and just focus on winning. It’s the wins that count. We want to be one of the stronger teams this year and one of the teams to beat late in the season,” Tonight the Merchants visit the Spruce Grove Regals (1-5) at 7:45 p.m. at Grant Fuhr Arena. The Merchants are back at home this weekend for games against the Sherwood Park Knights (2-3-1) Friday and Beaumont Chiefs (4-1) Sunday. Start times are 8 p.m.
