Golden Hawks expected to be competitive this season

By Lethbridge Herald on September 25, 2024.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

While they will  have a young roster this season, the Lethbridge Val Matteoti Golden Hawks U15AAA hockey  team expect to have a lot of fight in them as they open the 2024-2025 campaign on Saturday.

“I think the boys are coming together very well,” said Mitch Maxwell, Golden Hawks head coach.

“We got a bunch (of) new guys this year as we always do. So part of our job is to help facilitate an environment where we (can) kind of start to build a positive culture. We had a good weekend last weekend with a weekend off. We were able to do some stuff as a team and like (the) way things are coming.”

Maxwell sees a strength of the team being in their ability to play the whole length of the ice.

“We’re (going to) have to work hard at both ends of the ice,” said Maxwell.

Maxwell believes the goaltending is good,  the defensive core is solid and a group of talented forwards that are shifty.

The Golden Hawks will dress six first years this season that were a part of a group that had  success in U13 with winning a provincial championship or  a club that was dominant throughout the province.

“A bunch (of) young kids that know how to win (and) that have fit in well with our returning and second year players,” said Maxwell.

Maxwell was asked about if the bar was set higher after winning a tournament last year and making the playoffs.

“I think the bar’s always set high,” said Maxwell.

“I don’t know if there’s any different expectations then we have every other year. I don’t think we try to look too far ahead to things we really can’t control.”

The Golden Hawks expect good people out of their players with a team-first mentality and a willingness to work hard and making improvements.

Maxwell is looking forward to seeing improvements with the players this season.

The Golden Hawks open up on the road on Saturday at Calgary NWCAA Flames before hosting the Calgary Royals on Sunday at 2:45 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran arena.