The Esso Cup champions have embraced their role as the team to beat with open arms.
“We know everyone is going after us but it gives us a good challenge and it helps us get better,” said netminder Brianna Sank of the St. Albert Ron Hodgson Slash, repeat winners at the midget AAA female nationals.
Sank is among five third-year players and nine returnees with the Slash, 34-11-1 overall last season after going 38-4-1 in 2016-17.
“The third-years that have been here for three years they still want to win and that’s the important part. We’ve kind of had that focus from the start two years ago about taking pride in playing for the Slash and who you are as an individual and no matter what people think it’s what you think of yourself and as a team,” said Dan Auchenberg, head coach of the first Alberta team to win the Esso Cup in 2017 and the first team to win back-to-back championships in the tournament’s 10-year history.
“But the environment in (the Go Auto Arena dressing) room is probably the biggest reason why we’re so successful. Every girl gets along with each other and they have a lot of fun. They come to practice wanting to practice and they come to games wanting to win and work hard,” Auchenberg said. “Obviously we’re not going to win every game but we learn from our mistakes and move forward and get better and better.”
Eleven newcomers are learning the ropes from the Slash veterans with Esso Cup experience.
“We’re trying to push the younger girls to get there and teach them how good of an experience it is and how big of a deal it is,” Sank said.
Returning to nationals, April 21 to 27 in Sudbury, Ont., starts with winning the Final Frozen Four provincial championship in the Alberta Female Hockey League and Pacific Region national qualifier.
“The last two years have been the last two years. This is our brand-new team so obviously we’re focused on three-peating. We have a goal to get first overall in the league, win provincials, win Pacifics and go to nationals again,” Auchenberg said. “The girls that haven’t won it are obviously very excited to be part of this journey and hopefully our leaders that have won it can lead them in the right direction and encourage and support them.
“Our first-years are contributing right away and really helping the club on the work ethic side of it. They’re focusing all of us to step up and be ready to play at practices. Our practices are more energetic and our games are more energetic so that’s a positive this year. We are a harder working team which is really something I wanted to focus on to get better in that area so we’ve done that.
“Hopefully at the end of the day we come out victorious.”
The Slash were 5-1 in league play, with 27 goals scored and five against, before hosting the Rocky Mountain Raiders (1-5) Friday. The score was unavailable at press time.
“We have a lot of potential,” Sank said. “We’ve done pretty well getting to know each other and with our systems we’re clicking.”
Three of the first four wins were shutouts, including a pair during the three-game Showcase weekend at Clare Drake Arena to kick off league play.
“We got off to a good start at Showcase. We went 3-0, but we lost one of our captains, Izzy Lajoie, from a hit from behind in the first game and we still had Alexis Butz out so the girls have had to deal with adversity since the start of the season,” Auchenberg said. “Ally (Reich) also separated her shoulder against Lloyd (two weekends ago) so we’re still plugging away and still being successful and that’s the main thing. We’re staying with the belief that no matter what we’re going to support each other and we’re going to come out victorious at the end of the day. We’re going to try our best.”
Last weekend, the Slash competed at the CCM NIT Showcase in Minnesota and finished 3-1. The tournament-opening 1-0 loss to Elite Grey was followed by wins of 3-2 against the Elite Royals, 1-0 against Shattuck-St. Mary’s – all three teams are based in Minnesota – and 5-1 against the Madison Capitols of Wisconsin.
Madison Willan, a third-year Slash sniper with an AFHL-high six goals and 14 points in six games, scored three times against the Elite Royals. Jenna Goodwin struck on the power play in the third period against Shattuck-St. Mary’s while Taylor Anker, Brooklyn Schroeder, Riley Smith, Mackenzie Kordic and Jaden Bogden lit the lamp against the Capitols.
“We did pretty good. We also bonded together really well,” said Sank, noting Elite Grey and Shattuck-St. Mary’s “were our biggest competition” in the tournament. “It was good playing U.S. teams. It gave us a better challenge for us and helped us improve.”
League play continues tonight for the Slash against the Raiders at 6 p.m. at Go Auto Arena.
Sunday the Slash travel to Lloydminster to play the Steelers (4-3) at 1 p.m.
The Steelers spoiled the Slash home debut Oct. 13 with goals in the second period at even strength and on the power play at 9:11 of the third for the 2-0 victory.
Bella McKee, the 2018 AFHL MVP, faced 35 shots and Sank made 11 saves.
“It was kind of a struggle. We weren’t really gelling very well and we had a lot of opportunities but we couldn’t put anything in the net,” said Sank, 2-1 this season with an 0.67 GAA, .960 save percentage and two shutouts for eight in 32 games in her 23-6-2 AFHL career.
With the graduation of Camryn Drever, Sank’s netminding partner the last two seasons, the Grade 12 Archbishop Jordan High School student has taken Holly Borrett under her wing and is mentoring the 2018 AFHL midget elite top netminder award recipient with the St. Albert Sharks. Borrett is 3-0 with a 1.00 GAA, .910 save percentage and one shutout.
“I’m just teaching her what it’s all about at this level and getting her ready for next year once I’m gone,” said Sank, 17, who played for the bantam AAA female Sherwood Park Royals before joining the Slash in the AFHL’s inaugural season.
