The St. Albert Gregg Distributors Sabres are sharpening their competitive edge as a playoff contender in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
T.J. Woodward, head coach of the 10-6-3 Sabres, believes the team is on the verge of greatness.
“I don’t think these boys have scratched the surface of what they’re capable of. They’re not even close to peaking, which is nice to see as a coaching staff. They’re getting better every day but there is still a long way to go and a lot of areas we can work on,” Woodward told the Gazette on Thursday morning before the team bus left for the Prince Albert tournament.
In the notoriously tough nitro north division, the Sabres are one point back of the SSAC Southgate Lions (12-5) and eight behind the front-running Sherwood Park Flyers (14-2-3).
“They’re two teams we really focus a lot on. We know obviously we have to get out of our division if we want a shot at the north final at playoff time. Our division is always historically very strong and it’s no different this year,” Woodward said. “It’s nice to be in third but it would be better to be in second and even better to be in first so the boys are trying to crawl up the ladder and get that first spot.”
The Sabres are 0-1-1 against the Flyers after last week’s 3-2 loss in St. Albert and 2-1 against the Lions after Sunday’s 5-1 win at Millwoods Arena.
Martin Rudolf (seventh), Garrett Clegg (19th), Brady Nicholas (sixth), Noah Fayad (seventh) and Austin Sorensen (second) scored and Colton Girard (5-3-1, 2.68 GAA) stopped 23 shots in the team’s second straight win against the Lions.
“We’ve had some success against the Southgate Lions, especially that last game where we kind of ran away with it a little bit. It also showed our boys what they’re capable of. In our dressing room right now I don’t think we have anyone sitting around thinking we’re not good enough. The boys know that they can beat anyone on any given night as long as they bring their A game, don’t take any shifts off, there are no passengers or whatever clichĂ© you want to use,” Woodward said. “It was also a little bit of a statement game for us. It set us up well going into this tournament. The boys are rolling off that win right now so that’s good to see.”
The sixth victory in 10 games also stopped a season high two-game losing streak.
“We’re very happy with the way everything is going right now. The boys are buying into the team systems and basically everything we’re selling. They’re not questioning anything we ask of them to do. Everything we give them they try and execute. They’re going out on the ice and they’re making it happen. They’re starting to see success from it and obviously the game becomes a lot more fun when you’re having success which means they’re playing better overall as a team,” Woodward said. “They’re also starting to become a family and become a team and develop that brotherhood that you want these boys to have. At this age at 13 and 14 it can sometimes be a tough sell because they’re just really learning what that truly means. It’s not like midget AAA or junior were you really understand what team is and brotherhood is. They’re starting to get a sense of that and a little bit of a feel for that and seeing that happen before our very eyes right now has helped with some of our success for sure.”
Woodward described the Sabres as quick learners.
“They’re a bunch of sponges. I’ve had teams where you eventually get them to where you want them to be but honestly in probably the 10 to 12 years I’ve been coaching I can’t think of a group of young men that have honestly picked it up this quick. It’s been extraodinary,” he said.
The only returning player is defenceman Jayden Platz from Woodward’s first season behind the bench when the Sabres finished in the fourth and last playoff spot in the standings at 17-12-4 and lost the best-of-three opening playoff round in two games to the Lions.
“It just seems to be a little bit of a tighter knit group this year. They’re just meshing a little bit better and everybody seems to be on the same page.” Woodward said.
The Prince Albert tournament will bring the Sabres even closer together.
“It will get that team bonding going and hopefully build more of that family dynamics that we’re trying to teach them and that brotherhood too,” Woodward said. “Obviously we want to go there and win too and come back with some hardware.”
The next league game is Thursday against the Camrose Red Wings (5-9-1) at 7 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
