Learning experience for Braves

Posted on: Staff Writer

Mario Prusina – Times Editor

Despite not accumulating enough wins to qualify for the playoffs, it was a very productive season for the Wheatland Braves.

While it may not have been the most successful season on the ice in terms of wins and losses, the AA peewee team can use the season as valuable experience.

It was a learning season “not only for the coaches, but for the kids and their parents as well,” said head coach Mike Puttick. “They learned what elite hockey is all about and what it takes to play successful hockey.”

According to Puttick, the Braves made improvements from Game 1 to Game 30 of the regular season.

 

“This is just my opinion, but (the improvement) was a gradual thing,” said the coach. “Unfortunately, like any hockey season, as you’re getting better, so are the other teams you’re playing against.

“The stretch before Christmas, we were playing real good hockey, actually. The scoreboard didn’t dictate that, but we were getting better. It seemed like the Christmas break really set us back and we were almost back at square one again.”

Puttick added that the most consistent part of their season was their goaltending.

Ryder Quennell and Ben Bogstie provided the Braves with solid play between the pipes.

“Our strongest point was our goaltending,” said Puttick. “The scores don’t really dictate that – a lot of the games could have been a lot worse had it not been for our goaltending. They were fairly consistent and very good.”