Legionnaires unbeaten in five games to open season
The Swift Current Home Hardware Legionnaires’ impressive start continued back at home this past weekend as they scored 11 goals and only allowed one to sweep the visiting Beardy’s Blackhawks and improve their record to 4-01-0.
Their strong start in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League regular season continued Thursday with a 4-0 shutout of the host Notre Dame Hounds.
Luke Grassl made 34 saves for his first shutout of the season.
Jordan Wittman, Blake Fournier, Austin Andrusiak, and Josh Odelein all scored as the Legionnaires finished two-for-six on the man-advantage with powerplay goals from Fournier and Odelein.
Trenton Zakaluzny picked up a pair of assists, while Devin Deck, Reid Fritzke, Edwin Hookenson, Graham Grove, and Wittman all added single helpers.
Saturday, the Legionnaires were dominant in a 71 win over the Beardy’s Blackhawks. They outshot the visitors 47-17 led by two goals and two assists from Wittman.
Zakaluzny and Fournier each had a goal and an assist, while Morgan Greve and Dawson Tangen both added two assists. Carter Forsyth, Fritzke, and Deck also scored and Hookenson added an assist.
Rookie Kyle Zinger picked up the win with 15 saves on 16 shots.
Forsyth, Wittman, Fritzke, and Deck all scored on the powerplay as the Legionnaires finished four-forseven on the man-advantage and held the Blackhawks scoreless on three attempts.
Sunday, the Legionnaires got another sparkling performance from Grassl in a 40 win to improve to 4-0-1-0 this season. The veteran goaltender stopped all 22 shots he faced, including a pair of breakaways in the final minute of the second period to preserve a 2-0 lead.
Hookenson, Fournier and Wittman each had a goal and an assist, while Evan Patrick set up two goals as well. Deck also scored, while Zakaluzny added a single assist.
The Legionnaires scored their first two goals on the powerplay as they finished two-for-nine with the manadvantage.
“I was really happy with the effort,” said rookie head coach Dale Vossen. “I mean four points against Beardy’s is a pretty good weekend for us whether we are on the road or at home. I thought today Beardy’s really played well and our goaltending was the difference.”
Grassl’s two breakaway saves in particular to finish the second period were the difference in the contest.
“I think that was the turning point. I think that if they got one there they were building some momentum, they were starting to come hard at us,” said Vossen.
“Those breakaways were a couple big mistakes on the powerplay there but Grassl just absolutely saved us. That could have been a big difference in the game but Grassl shut the door for us,” added Hookenson.
It was Grassl’s second straight shutout and he lowered his goals against average to 0.32 and improved his save percentage to .990.
“He has done that pretty well every game he has played. In Notre Dame he had the shutout and it is back-to-back shutouts now. He has been kind of our backbone. In Notre Dame we played pretty well but here today he kind of was the difference in the game,” said Vossen.
Breaking out for 11 goals at home was a welcome sight for Vossen and he said he was happy with the number of scoring chances they generated.
“At this point yes definitely,” he cautiously laughed. “I am happy with that. I think that the guys are starting to buy into the system and we are starting work hard cycling pucks down low.”
Vossen credited the third line of Dylan Lamontagne, Josh Odelein, and Josh Stang with another strong outing even though they didn’t show up on the scoresheet.
“They outworked the other lines. They know they are not going to be pretty guys that are going to score a tonne of goals but they generate opportunities off the forecheck and they also create powerplay opportunities by drawing penalties by working hard.”
“It was really good,” said captain Edwin Hookenson of the weekend sweep. “We were really clicking. The powerplay was just on fire this weekend and we were really capitalizing. We generated a lot of shots and that was something that we have had a lot of trouble with in the past few games. Our goalies just absolutely stood on their heads, so they really shut the door for us.”
The Legionnaires finished the weekend with six powerplay goals and killed off all 10 shorthanded situations.
“We worked on it a little in practice this week. The guys know what they are doing and it seems like everything is getting through. Shots are getting through from the point, forwards are getting in front of the net and getting sticks on the puck. Penalty kill, we haven’t given up anything I don’t think. Guys are willing to block shots and willing to work and we are not really giving them chances,” said Hookenson.
An unbeaten opening five games is a welcome sight for the third-year blueliner.
“The guys are confident. But starting off we knew that we weren’t going to have the same talent up front as we did last year. But the guys are really working as a team to get goals. This weekend we really exploded offensively which is huge for us. It is great to have this success because the last two years we definitely haven’t had the success off the start.”
Hookenson was named captain this season by the coaching staff.
“It is a big role to fill from Cody [McKinnon] last year. I am just trying to do my best to lead the guys. I have a lot of experience and I try and lead them as good as I can in the dressing room and on the ice.”
He is leading a blueline corps that looks to be much improved from last season.
“Yeah we are really strong. We have a few bigger bodies that are really playing physical. We are getting a lot of scoring from the back end, which is different from last year. Lots of points are coming from the back end and guys are willing to take the risk and play offensively and there is a lot of talent to go along with their physicality, which is great.”
The Legionnaires will be at home to the Regina Pat Canadians (2-1-2-0) tonight at 8:15 p.m. at the Credit Union iplex.
Their next action will be Oct. 27 when they host the Moose Jaw Generals (5-2-0-0) at 8 p.m. at the iplex.