By TERRY PUGH
After a shaky start, the Warman U15AA Wildcats are finding their groove.
The Wildcats dropped a 5-3 decision on the road to the North West Stars in North Battleford on September 29. But since then, the team has been on a roll, racking up three consecutive wins, including an 11-4 romp over the host Prince Albert Venice House Pirates on Thursday, October 3; a 5-4 nail-biter against the visiting Humboldt Broncos on Saturday, October 5; and a 15-1 thrashing of the West Central Wheat Kings in Kerrobert on Sunday, October 6.
And while it’s still early in the season, the game against Humboldt could be a turning point for the Wildcats.
Despite outshooting their opponents 52-26, the Wildcats were continually playing catch-up for 59 of the 60 minutes. They won the game on a short-handed goal by Kobe Pellack with just over a minute left in regulation time.
Wildcats head coach Cam Kayter said the Broncos represented the first big test for the Wildcats this season.
“Humboldt is a very good team,” said Kayter. “They have excellent goaltending, some really strong players and they’re well-coached. So this is the first opportunity we’ve had to face a team of this calibre so far. It was back-and-forth all game long. We got a lot of shots in but we were always trailing. So for our guys to come back in the third period like that; to not only kill a penalty in the last two minutes of the game, but to score a short-handed goal to win it, that really shows this team is starting to gel.”
The Broncos led 1-0 after the opening frame, thanks to a goal by Kohen Ruedig. But less than a minute into the second period the Wildcats tied it up on a goal by Camryn Aebig, with assists from Maclain Ethier and Arlo Barclay.
Warman U15AA Wildcats’ Camryn Aebig battles for the puck against Humboldt Broncos defender Maguire Hendry during a game in Warman October 5 (Gazette photo by Terry Pugh)
Humboldt’s Ryden Johnson and Dylan Davidson each scored to make it 3-1 for the visitors; but Warman’s Cullen Stephenson cut that margin to one goal when he scored later in the second. Warman’s Aebig, with assists from Ethier and Kaleb Johns, netted his second goal of the night to tie things up early in the third.
But, the Broncos took advantage of their opportunities, and Kade Dauvin put the visitors ahead 4-3 midway through the third frame after a gift-wrapped giveaway in front of the Warman net.
Warman’s Ethier tied the score at 4-4 less than a minute later, capitalizing on a perfect pass from Aebig, who had redirected a feed from teammate Beau Anholt at the blue line.
While the Wildcats were outshooting the Broncos by a 2-1 margin, the game seemed headed to overtime as both goaltenders, Warman’s Kason Peters and Humboldt’s Cohen Kuntz, both turned aside a flurry of shots. Then, with a little over two minutes left in regulation, the Wildcats were flagged with a penalty. Humboldt loaded up on their power play; but a miscue by the Broncos at the Wildcats’ blue line allowed Pellack to spring free and go in alone on the Broncos’ net, where he scored a shorthanded goal to secure the victory.
Kayter said the key to the win was hard work around the net, and the physical play along the boards.
“We’re trying to build a culture based on going after pucks hard and playing like a team,” said Kayter. “I think this was a key match-up for us, and I really like how the guys responded. Everybody is starting to realize their role on this team and everybody contributes in different ways. That showed during the third period. We got some goals from our second-year players, and obviously our goalie kept us in the game with some really key saves.
“And to see our first-year players like Kobe Pellack and Caleb Philp take that shorthanded shift at the end of the game and get the game winner, that was great to see.”
Kayter said the team is loaded with talented players who are working hard.
“This group has the potential to not only go deep into the playoffs but to win it all,” said Kayter. “It’s a long process and it’s not going to be easy, but we have the depth to do that.”
The Wildcats’ host the North East Wolfpack on Saturday, October 12 at 5:30 at the Warman Home Centre Communiplex; and the high-flying Saskatoon Outlaws on Sunday, October 13 at 2:15 p.m, also at the Warman Home Centre Communiplex.