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Rockyview Silvertips off to 2-0 start

Oh how things can change in just a few short seasons.
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The Rockyview Silvertips are off to their best start in franchise history.

Oh how things can change in just a few short seasons. Fresh off their first winning record in their team's existence in the 2018 campaign, the Rockyview Silvertips got off to a good start in their first two Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL) games on April 27 and 28.

The 'Tips opened their season with back-to-back games on the road with the first coming in Sherwood Park against the Outlaws. The game didn't get off to the best start with Sherwood Park tallying two early goals, staking them out to a 2-0 lead after one period of play. The Silvertips took over from there, scoring eight of their nine goals in the second period. Hunter McChesney scored the team's first goal of the season and added another two goals later in the period to finish with a hat trick. Rockyview also got goals from Colby Gulutzan and Patrick Morrow who had two each, Adam Bartolome and Nolan Oakey also tallied while they managed to hold on after the Outlaws netted four goals in the third period. Rookie goaltender Haiden Merriam made a few big saves down the stretch in order to win his first junior game.

The team hopped on the bus and travelled to Fort Saskatchewan to play the Rebels the following afternoon. Colby Gulutzan continued his hot start to the season, scoring back-to-back goals for the Silvertips with Josh Halcro also adding his first goal of the year, but the team trailed 7-3 after one period of play with hopes of a comeback. Their hopes would be answered as the team scored six goals in the second and five in the third while holding Fort Saskatchewan to just four goals between the second and third period. Gulutzan added another two goals to give him four on the night while Nolan Oakey also potted four goals on the afternoon while Hunter McChesney, Matthew Colebrook and Aiden Smith also tallied markers.

Gulutzan said the early season success is huge for his own confidence as well as the team's heading into the remainder of the season. Gulutzan has six goals and an assist in two games so far this season which earned him player of the game against the Rebels.

"We started off both games slow and we were able to find our stride in the second period," Gulutzan said. "They were character wins for our young team early in the season which is really nice moving forward."

"As for my own game, it's nice to see them dropping early in the season for sure. Having both team and individual success this weekend gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season."

"It's always a good feeling getting the team award, it means a lot to us as a team."

The Silvertips named their team captains prior to the game, with Gulutzan, Tyson Hribnak and Nolan Oakey being assigned the assistant captaincy while Tanner Lam was named team captain.

"It's a really good feeling," Gulutzan said of the recognition of being named a captain. "I've been fortunate enough to have good captains with teams that have taught me what it takes to play at the junior level. I want to pass that down onto the younger players that will one day become captains as well."

Prior to last season, the Silvertips have never won more than six games in a season. After an 11-8-1 record last year and a 2-0 start to this year, the 19-year-old forward feels like there has been a huge change in the team culture which will lead to continued success.

"The culture is absolutely changing. We have a lot of skilled, younger players coming in that have won in minor and they know how to win," Gulutzan said proudly. "We have set big goals as a team and want nothing more than to achieve them together."

The 'Tips will finish off their three game road swing May 4 in Lethbridge against the Barracudas before they have their home opener May 11 vs the Calgary Chill.

"These are tough games to start the schedule," Gulutzan said. "We will need to show up ready to play for both teams."

The home opener will kick off at 8 p.m.


Troy Durrell

About the Author: Troy Durrell

Troy is the Sports and Entertainment Reporter for the Cochrane Eagle.
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