New bench boss, same expectations for Trojans
When it comes to opening night pep talks, the message becomes slightly different when you’re the defending champs.
And that’s what SAIT Trojans men’s hockey head coach Dan Olsen will deal with Friday night as his team opens their Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference season when they host the Portage College Voyageurs at SAIT Arena at 7.
“You just have to keep reminding them that it’s not going to be easy,” said Olsen, who embarks on his first season as the team’s head coach, replacing longtime bench boss Ken Babey, who left the school after 27 years there. “Every team knows we won it all last year, and when Red Deer (College) beat us in that first exhibition game, it was like they won the Stanley Cup.
“For sure the target is on us, and we’re going to have to be prepared to battle every night.”
SAIT won the ACAC title last year, sweeping NAIT 2-0 in their best-offive championship final series. The title was their 12th all time, and fifth in the past eight seasons.
With final cuts made earlier this week, Olsen is fully prepared to put behind a pre-season that saw his team go 0-4 — a mark he doesn’t put much stock into — and finally play with points up for grabs.
“With the (pre-season) done, we can see the potential here; it’s just a matter of getting guys in there, getting them comfortable,” he said. “Should be more exciting to watch.”
Olsen’s first year with the team has been made easier with the presence of key veterans. Forwards Riley Paterson, Mitchell Board, Nolan Souchotte and Corey Tyrell will be counted on to bring along a crop of talented rookies.
One of the first-year forwards is Tyson Ness. The veteran of 258 Western Hockey League (WHL) games with the Red Deer Rebels and Kamloops Blazers scored three goals in the team’s final two preseason games.
“Obviously I’d like to see more of that,” Ness said, laughing.
“It’s pre-season, though. A lot of the teams aren’t at their best . . . Most of the time I don’t give much thought to it, but I guess it’s good to know I had those (goals) going into the season.”
On defence, newcomers Lucas Grundy and Eric Walker will fortify a blue-line rich in experience with the likes of Tyler Hlookoff, Matthew Weisensel, Mike Puddifant and Craig Gans.
The biggest question mark for the Trojans this season will be in net. Last year’s ACAC Playoff Most Valuable Player, Brayden Hopfe, graduated, leaving a big hole between the pipes.
In his place this year are first-year netminders Austin Smith, Kootenay Alder and Cody Befus. All three played solid minutes during the pre-season and should battle one another for the No. 1 spot all season long.
The second game of the Trojans’ opening weekend set against Portage College goes Saturday at 2 p.m. Olsen said that hopefully by then, the nerves associated with starting a new season, and as a new head coach, will have settled.
“If you don’t have butterflies, you have problems, or you’re over confident,” he said with a chuckle.
“I think if you have butterflies, it’s a sign that you’ve done your work and you’re ready to get going.”