Valley Wildcats quickly finding their groove in 2021
It didn’t take the Kohltech
U18 Major Valley Wildcats long to find their groove in 2021.
Public health regulations prevented the team from playing games for about two months in the middle of their season, but the Wildcats won three of their first four games once they returned in late January. The wins have helped the team climb to fifth in the league standings as the Wildcats continue to trend in the right direction.
“We’re a pretty good team,” says first-year Wildcat Spencer Bower. “I like it here.”
Bower hails from Fall River, just outside Halifax. He played minor hockey in Bedford, including the last two seasons with the U15 Bedford Barons. Now he’s working on adjusting his game to the U18 level.
“Always improving your skating is a big thing because as you move up, the game keeps getting faster,” says the 16-year-old. “I think that’s one of the main things I’m trying to improve.”
Bower says he’s always ready to hit the ice. During the pause in league play, players had to put in some extra effort to stay game ready.
“I got a gym in my home so if I want to work out, I can do that.”
Ryan McLellan is also adjusting to playing U18 major hockey with the Wildcats this season but he’s coming at it from another direction.
McLellan learned to play with West Hants Minor Hockey and spent the last two seasons with the Minor Midget Wildcats.
“It’s a little bit quicker and stronger kids,” says McLellan of the jump. “But it helps a lot playing minor.”
Despite the uncertainty of playing hockey this season due to the pandemic, McLellan says he’s had fun playing with friends.
“I played with Ben McCarthy and Carter Hood a few times with West Hants. And I played with Nick Goodwin the last two years.”
McLellan says he tries to help the team at both ends of the ice.
“I’m kind of a physical guy. I like to bring some energy to the bench. I’m trying to work on my shot and offensive abilities.”
Not all the U18 Wildcats are rookies this season. Ten players are returners from last year’s squad, including defenceman Chase Guthro.
“I started off in Chebucto when I was really young,” says Guthro. “Then I moved to TASA, and then Gulls, and played here last year.”
“I like to play aggressive,” says Guthro, who is often found doing the hard work in the corners. “I play defensively, but this year I’m trying to work on my offensive game.”
Like his teammates,
Guthro is doing his best to focus on hockey during the pandemic. Last year, the Wildcats took a team trip to Quebec, and Guthro says they had a lot of fun taking in an NHL game.
While something like that trip isn’t possible this season, Guthro says he’s happy just to be back on the ice.
“It’s hard to stay in game shape when you’re not playing. You have to do some extra things at home like work out on your own time.”