St. Albert’s bantam AAA hockey team is doing its job every shift every game.
“We want to work hard every day. That’s our goal because everyone is trying to beat us,” said Mike Benning, captain of the undefeated Gregg Distributors Sabres, prior to Monday’s practice at Mark Messier Arena.
“If they lose to us it doesn’t really mean anything but if they beat us it means something so we don’t want people to think that so we’re always trying to get better,” Benning added. “We don’t think about losing, we just want to win.”
The Sabres were a razor-sharp 7-0 before Tuesday’s contest against the KC Squires (3-4) at Castledowns Arena. The score was unavailable at press time.
The Nitro north Sabres, Charger north Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (7-0-1), Ram south Red Deer Rebels (6-1-2) and Charger south Calgary Bisons (6-1-1) lead their respective divisions in the 21-team Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
“It’s pretty nice not losing but we just want to work hard and keep building towards tournaments and playoffs,” said centre Ryley Morgan. “We’re really excited for the year. We think we have a good shot in the playoffs this year.”
The Sabres are going great guns at both ends of the ice while averaging 6.6 goals per game and have allowed only 12 against with Ethan Barwick (3-0, 1.67 GAA, one shutout) and Kyle Nelson (4-0, 1.76 GAA) between the pipes.
“Our D is very good at stopping pucks, blocking shots and not letting them score,” Morgan said. “Our offence is really good at putting pucks in the net, working hard down low and getting it towards the net.”
Ethan Leyer ranked second in goals with 11 and was tied for third in points at 17, along with teammate Matthew Savoie, in the AMBHL after seven games.
Carter Savoie was also among the top-12 point producers with 15 and his 10 assists led the team.
The Sabres had recorded more shorthanded goals (seven) than on the power play (six) before facing off against KC.
“We’re a fast, quick team and we’re really skilled. We like to work hard. We have a few guys that like to lay the body too and that really helps,” said Morgan, who has contributed six goals and five assists to the attack.
“What we do best is get out of the defensive zone and play offence,” noted Benning, a high-scoring defenceman with four goals and nine assists. “It’s mostly our execution and our systems, like how we do them, and that’s a big factor too.”
Benning, Morgan, forward Austin Spiridakis and defenceman Ethan Edwards are returning Sabres from the 23-6-7 lineup that placed second in the Nitro division and lost the best-of-three opening playoff round in two games last season.
“We challenge the guys coming up to be better and that makes everyone else better so that’s helping our season also,” said Benning, who wore the C in atom and peewee before assuming the captaincy of the Sabres.
This weekend the Sabres bring their winning act to Calgary for games against the Northstars (4-4-2) and Royals (2-7-2) of the Challenger division.
“It’s going to be cool to play some southern teams and see what they’re like. Hopefully we’ll come out with four points,” said Morgan, 14, a Grade 9 Richard S. Fowler student.
On the horizon for the Sabres is the 16-team John Reid Memorial Tournament and the 39th edition runs Jan. 19 to 22 at Servus Credit Union Place.
“We put goals out throughout the whole year and that’s one of our big challenges. It’s what we’re looking forward to because it’s our home tournament,” said Benning, 14.
His brother Matt played for the Sabres in the 2009 tournament and is a highly-regarded defenceman in the Edmonton Oilers’ system.
Matt, 22, signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Oilers in August as an unrestricted free-agent from the Northeastern University Huskies who was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2012 in round six, 175th overall.
The former midget AAA St. Albert Raider played two seasons for the Spruce Grove Saints in the Alberta Junior Hockey league and then one year with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League.
The six-foot, 203-pound blueliner spent three seasons with the Hockey East division one Huskies and in 110 games posted nine goals, 56 points and 56 penalty minutes.
Matt was on the Oilers’ roster when the NHL season started and Monday was assigned to the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League.
“I came home today and he was like I’m finally going down,” said Mike, a Grade 9 Fowler student. “He was proud of himself because he did really well so he’s just going to try and get better.
“Everyone was surprised when he was staying up here for the first few games even though he didn’t play but he did really well in pre-season.
“It’s wicked because my dad (Brian) played in the NHL and now my brother is almost there.”
