It’s not easy wearing a target on your sweater.
But the Airdrie-Cochrane (AC) Avalanche aren’t interested in easy. They’re interested in defending their Alberta Minor Midget Hockey League (AMMHL) AAA midget Sutter South Cup title.
The Avs are in Medicine Hat March 6-9 to try and do just that. Rolling up a gaudy 31-4-2 record in AMMHL regular-season play, the Avalanche have buried the competition, finishing first in the South and 10 points clear of North Division-leading Leduc.
They intend to roll on at the Sutter South tournament featuring eight teams split into two pools. By virtue of winning the regular season, the Avs have “home” ice advantage during round-robin play, ensuring last line changes. They’ll be playing in the “A” pool for the round-robin portion of the tourney.
“We had some objectives in the back half of the year and we were able to do those for the months of January and February,” said Avalanche head coach Terry Sydoryk of Cochrane. “We finished strong. The general momentum is really good right now.”
Boasting five scorers in the league’s top-20, the Avs’ balanced attack and league-leading goals-against total (96) make them the team to beat in Medicine Hat. Because Red Deer is hosting the provincial final tournament, there are only two spots available out of the Sutter South tournament for provincials, instead of the usual three. The Avs will have to make the final Sutter South game to advance to Red Deer.
Sydoryk knows his team is targeted, and doesn’t care.
“When you finish on top, everybody wants to beat you,” Sydoryk surmised. “But right now, we’re good.”
The Alberta Minor Midget Hockey League AAA Sutter South Cup starts today (March 6) in Medicine Hat.
