The expectations are high as the Coaldale Copperheads head into the 2015-16 season.
Having come off a south division and league championship in the Heritage Junior Hockey League, the team is looking to continue its winning ways.
However, the loss of several veterans has shifted some of the burden to the team’s youth.
Head Coach Derek Wiest is confident that the team’s rookies can step up and build on last year’s success.
“We got a good group of leaders that are able to get players new to the organization up to speed,” Wiest said. “We’re pretty confident in their ability to get the new players going for us.”
One of those leaders is defenseman Matt Johnson.
“I think we’ll be pretty good,” Johnson said, “We lost a lot of talented guys last year, but we got a lot of new talent coming up this year which I think we really benefit our team.”
A native of Sylvan Lake, Johnson joined the Copperheads last season after a year with the Blackfalds Wranglers.
Outside of hockey, Johnson is taking Criminal Justice at Lethbridge College and says that the support of his teammates helps him balance hockey and school.
“It depends on how much school work you get and how much we’re practicing.”
Joining the team this season is rookie defenseman Brock Boutiller.
A Coaldale native, Boutiller is excited to walk into a team with a culture of winning.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to go as far as possible with it while having fun,” Boutiller said.
For Wiest, it’s the type of attitude he’s looking for from his young players.
“We’re real excited about this team. We’ve got a lot of skill,” Wiest said, “We’re real excited and looking pretty good.
The Copperheads are currently 2-2 and have three home games over the Thanksgiving weekend taking on the Airdire Thunder on Saturday, Okotoks Bison on Sunday and Strathmore Wheatland Kings on holiday Monday.
All games take place at the Coaldale Arena at 8:30 pm with the exception of Monday’s game, which starts at 2:00 pm.
Coaldale Copperheads forward Dustin Houghton applies the breaks after being stopped by goaltender Dillan Kelly druing practice at the Coaldale arena on October 1, 2015.
Coaldale Copperheads Rookie goaltender Dylan Swanson is scored on by teammate and forward Jamie Price during practice at the Coaldale Arena on October 1, 2015
