Chiefs want scoring
Justin Seward
Times Reporter
The Wheatland Chiefs want to build the 2014-2015 edition of the team on skill and size.
They also want to get more goal production this season, as wins came by slim margins last year.
The local double-A midget team, before their annual Red-and-White game on Sept. 13, had five returning players – with one still at Bisons camp.
But not all was good news for the Chiefs, as their main goalie went down to a season ending injury.
“We had our one goalie that could have came back this year but blew his knee out again. So he is done for the year, he had to get surgery,” said head coach Devin Olson. “It looks like we got a lot of skill to rely on. We did not have a lot of scoring last year so that’s one main thing we’re focusing on is getting some guys that can put the puck in and work hard.”
If the Chiefs can learn early and understand the systems, then the team will have success in putting up wins.
“I think it’s all learning at the beginning and if they can buy into the systems early and I think it works better,” said Olson. “If they’re a close team and all on board, it works good. Some guys (may) stray away and get into trouble, (but) usually at the beginning of the year kids are pretty good.”
In his seven years with the association, Olson says that he has been fortunate to have some talented players to coach and is hopeful to have the same team this year.
“We’ve had all but one good year. I get pretty lucky with some of the talent that we get, so when you’re on the winning side it keeps everybody happier because no one likes losing,” he said. “We had hard working players last year but this year there are a lot of guys who are hard working. And we have some guys picked out early who can put the puck in the net.”
Overall, the team has gotten bigger in size, and the goal is for those players to use a combination of size and skill to put the puck in the back of the net.
“It’s a big group and our vets showed up in shape and ready to go which is nice to see,” said Olson.
The Chiefs will start the season on the road Oct. 4-5 against Cranbrook and Lethbridge before hosting their home opener Oct. 10 (7:30 p.m.) against Lacombe at the Strathmore Family Centre.