Headwater Hurricanes piecing together success as Christmas break looms

By Lethbridge Herald on December 4, 2024.

Herald File Photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Headwater Hurricanes Cohen Zasadny battles in front of the net with Nathan Monteith of the Calgary Northstars in an attempt to get a tip on the loose puck during U17AAA Alberta Elite Hockey League action at Nicholas Sheran earlier this season.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Headwater Hurricanes U17AAA team seem to be piecing together many facets of their game with a couple of weeks to go before the Christmas break.

Lethbridge is in fifth place with a 7-7 record and are looking to climb the ladder in the standings as they are only nine points out of first place and four points clear of the last place team going into this weekend in an ultra-tight South Division.

“We’re hoping here by Christmas to be up into the second or third spot,” said Scott Trotter, Hurricanes head coach.

What has led to the team’s success this far has been the team sticking to the game plan, being a hard group to play against and forcing teams to play right until whistle.

“I think it’s just being hard to play against every shift,” said Trotter.

The team is beginning to find their identity.

“That’s going to be again playing hard, working hard and capitalizing on our opportunities when we get the chance,” said Trotter.

Team systems has been a focus point for the team recently with a mix of new and returning players.

“So you’re teaching and trying to get everybody to buy in on the same page and we’ve been seeing success from it,” said Trotter.

The team’s challenge is having a young roster.

“We’re young this year,” said Trotter.

“So what might’ve worked at the last level might not work as much at this level. So there’s some growing pains there but the guys are starting to learn, and to buy in and work as a team through them.”

Barrett Van Nistelrooy felt it took a while before more players to step up and scoring.

“Once everybody kind of picked up on the game plan and everything, it started just going uphill and we started winning games and we started playing like a team,” he said.

There is a mixture of excitement and nervousness around the team heading into Christmas.

“We got a lot of work ahead of us to do and I think everyone knows that,” he said.

“So we’re just trying to stay as calm as we can.”