With an emphasis on team chemistry, the Aberdeen Cougars boys' hockey team hopes it has the formula for success this season.
Numbers are good for the Cougars, with a total of 23 kids out, said head coach Steve Salwei. A majority of last year's team is back and a lot of them saw playing time last year. The team features seven seniors and two juniors.
"Experience will be a strength. Our junior varsity and varsity will play two lines each," Salwei said. "We have 10 or 12 kids back that played last year."
Chemistry will be an important part of this year's team, Salwei said, and the boys are already working to establish it both on and off the ice.
"We are doing a lot of team-building things and getting good leadership from a bunch of different kids," he said. "That is something we've lacked in the past. We have team unity and bonding, and the kids are coming together as a unit."
Scoring leaders returning include Dustin Santjer, Thomas Hogg, Cameron Huff and Kevin Birkla. Salwei is confident the team has players who can fill vacancies created by graduation.
"We have new kids stepping up to fill roles," he sed. "We are working on some systems and getting all the kids to buy into it."
This is Salwei's third year as boys' coach. He is assisted by Jon Murdy, Nick Gehring and Dusty Basham. The coaches have liked what they have seen so far in practice.
"The kids are working hard and making the right choices with the puck," Salwei said.
Along with team chemistry, the transition game is an area the Cougars are working to shore up.
"Our transition game is going to be real key this year. The boys are seeing things open up and reading situations really well."
Defensively, the Cougars will have some work to do as well.
"We've got two kids on defense who played a lot (last season) and a couple that will have to step up and fill in," Salwei said.
The Cougars start their season this weekend with three games at the Rooster Cup in Huron. Overall, the team is looking forward to putting together a solid season with plenty of scoring and end-to-end action.
"We are confident that we will score a lot of goals and have a lot of speed," Salwei said. "We are real excited to get the season started. I see a lot of positive things happening in Aberdeen right now."
|2012-13 Schedule|
November - 23, Rooster Cup at Huron, vs. Team Wyoming, 2:15 p.m.; 24, Rooster Cup at Huron, vs. Grand Forks, N.D., 7:30 a.m. and Gabriel-Roy, 6:45 p.m.;
December - 1, Watertown, 3 p.m.; 14-16, at Fargo Tournament; 21, at Sioux Falls; 22, at Sioux Falls; 23, at Brookings Red; 28, Huron, 8 p.m.; 29, Huron, 8 p.m.;
January - 3-6, at Eden Prairie, Minn. Tournament; 12, at Oahe; 13, at Oahe; 19, at Watertown, 8 p.m.; 20, at Watertown, 4 p.m.;
February - 1, at Huron; 10, Sioux Falls, 3:30 p.m.; 15, Rushmore, 8 p.m.; 16, Rushmore, 2:30 p.m.; 17, Rushmore, 1 p.m.; 22, Oahe, 8 p.m. 23, at Mitchell;
March - 8-10, State Varsity Tournament at Brookings.