Wheatland well represented

Times Reporter   

 

The Southern Central Alberta Hockey League is hosting its All-Star Weekend on Jan. 19 in Medicine Hat, with great Wheatland AA representation. Peewees, bantams, and midgets were chosen by their age group coaches, selecting 12 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies for the North Division and the South Division. 

“All-Star time is always hard. You’re promoting a team concept and then you’re choosing individuals out of there,” said Sandy Henry, Wheatland AA president. “It’s always a hard job.”

For the 14-7-2 midget Wheatland Chiefs, goalie Mike Conrad is 11-5-2 with a .931 save percentage and was added to the North All-Star list, beside defenseman Jake Vergouwen; he has 11 points on the year.

The Chiefs’ Coltyn Herman – sixth in league scoring with 36 points – was selected, alongside fellow forward Cody Willis, who has 34 points in the season. 

“I have seen them only a couple times,” said Henry, of Herman and Willis. “I think they’ve been AA players for a number of years. It doesn’t surprise me that they certainly lead the offense for the most part on that team. I heard the coaching staff made it as well.”

Chiefs coach Devin Olson and crew will be behind the bench for the midget North squad, while Wheatland Warriors bantam coach Mark Laycock will be coaching the bantam North All-Stars.

“Two out of three for us got selected based on their records up to November. Both of those teams were sitting at first place at that point,” Henry said. “I’m real proud of those guys, and real proud of the job they’ve done. We’ll be well represented.”

The Warriors are still first in the league with 46 points, and have an amazing 155 goals for, and 49 goals against – best in both categories. Their record sits at 22-1-2. Named All-Stars were forward Kyle Merkosky (fifth in league scoring), forward Robert Butterwick (26 points in 25 games), and defenseman Cole Clayton. Warriors’ netminder Ty Tarvyd was also named to the North All-Stars; Tarvyd has a 12-1-0 record, a .930 save percentage, a 1.46 goals against average, and four shutouts – making him first place among league bantam goalies.

“They’re a very upbeat and young team. Half their roster, if not more, are made up of first year players. For them to be that competitive in that league – kudos to Mark and his crew. I think coaches past as well, as (the players) have to come here with a certain level of competency,” Henry said. “Obviously, that’s a group, where Keith Klemmensen, our peewee guy, had a majority of them last year. I think they got them started right, which allowed Mark to integrate them easily into his program.”

Three of Klemmensen’s current peewee Wheatland Braves players were named All-Stars as well: forward Tarun Fizer, who has 38 points in 23 games, first-place in save percentage (.910) goalie Kenny Holt-Stewart, and defenseman Connor Bertamini.

“I think Keith’s team is on the rise. I think that peewee group got continuously better to a point where they’re really competitive even against the top teams in the league,” Henry said.  “They’re moving their way up, I’m excited for that group. Being the new boys in town, it takes them a while to mesh into our philosophies, but they’re doing a real good job getting there now. We’re starting to see some positive results.”

The peewee Braves are fifth in the North division at 9-11-3.

“I think it was a real new group. Keith didn’t have a lot of returning guys, and that’s fine, it just means that he did a good job moving guys on. I think it took Keith a little time at the start of the year to build a team atmosphere; you get kids from lots of other programs,” Henry said. “He’s got a certain style and certain work ethic he wants; he wants those players to play at full speed. I think certainly the players that were selected have been real good, honest players.”