The Airdrie-Cochrane (AC) Avalanche new players, new coaches and a new season all on the go.
The squad was fine-tuning its game plan in a Sept. 25 practice at Cochrane Arena, as 20 players were put through their paces by coaches Dave McCulloch and Scott McCulloch of Calgary. The Avs wrapped up their season preparations playing a preseason tournament at WinSport Calgary Sept. 26-28.
Opening the Alberta Minor Midget AAA Hockey League season Oct. 4 in Chestermere against Rockyview Raiders, the Avs aim to build their identity and momentum as the season progresses.
“We’re looking pretty good. We’re working hard out there,” said 15-year-old Cochrane goalie Ben Laidlaw, a Cochrane High student who played for Airdrie Bantam Xtreme last season. “We’ve got some new guys up. It’s feeling pretty good. I like it.
“We do have some fast players and some skill players. But we’re definitely going to be the hardest-working team out there. We’re going to grind it out.”
Avs coaches Dave McCulloch and Scott McCulloch drilled the players in an exhausting combination of bag-skates, break-out rushes and short scrimmages during the 75-minute session.
“We’ve definitely got the guys who can play the up-tempo style,” Dave McCulloch said of his roster of 1999-born players. “We want to push the pace the whole time.
“I see us playing a high-tempo game.”
But with large-bodied skaters like 6-foot-2, 205-pound defenceman Trey Wallace, and forwards Christian Dees (6-foot, 150 pounds) and Cody Gibson (6-foot, 175 pounds), the Avs won’t be shy about moving the opposition off the puck.
“But we do have guys with some big bodies who can play physical as well,” Dave McCulloch observed. “We’ll play a fast-paced power game up front and we have guys who can do the same on the back end.”
They players are in place and the roster is set.
Now it’s time to take it all to the rink.
“Our expectations are that we come together as a team and play the way we want,” McCulloch said.
“Come to the rink and compete. Focus on your work ethic and give your maximum effort.”
