Playing for each other
Veteran-laden Avon View Avalanche ready to host provincial championship
jason.malloy @saltwire.com @JasonMa47772994
Camdyn Burgess looks around the dressing room and sees guys he has played hockey with his whole life.
It makes for a special bond within the Avon View Avalanche boy’s hockey team.
“We’re more of a family than a team,” the captain said prior to a recent practice. “Everyone is best friends and always hang out at school.”
Carter Hood said the chemistry forged from years of playing together has helped the team have a successful season.
“A hundred per cent. We all seem to be on the same page and all have the same goals, so that helps a lot,” said the five-foot-11, 180pound defenceman.
That connection within the team has branched out into the community, which has supported the squad throughout the season despite restrictions on how many fans could attend games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With those restrictions lifted, the team is hopeful of a big crowd attending this weekend’s provincials at the new West Hants Sports Complex.
The first games take place on April 1.
“A lot of this town is wrapped around us right now and with COVID-19 (restrictions being) lifted, it should be a big thing and I think we’ll get a lot of outside people coming in too. I can’t wait. It’s going to be awesome,” said Burgess, a 17-year-old Windsor resident and Grade 12 student.
Despite the limited number of fans in the past, those attending the games were still able to create a raucous environment.
“Oh yeah, the crowd gets loud,” Burgess said. “It’s awesome. It gets the boys going. We love it.”
Hood, a Grade 12 student from Mount Uniacke, said it will be great having an opportunity to finish his high school career at provincials in their home rink.
“It’s awesome, especially with the community (here). They’ve (been) huge for us this year. It really helps.”
PROVINCIALS
The eight-team tournament will see teams play a round-robin format within their four-team division. The two top teams in each division will play cross-over semifinals on April 2, with the final slated for April 3 at 1 p.m.
The teams had not been determined as of press time, but the schedule can be found attached to this story at saltwire.com.
Gavin Sheehy, a Grade 12 student from Windsor, said it is fun getting an opportunity to play provincials in the new rink.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said the five-foot-eight, 145pound centre. “It makes me pretty proud to play for this team and represent our community.”
It will be one of the first big tournaments to be hosted at the new facility, which opened with a soft launch in November 2020.
Head coach Mark Tye said they want to showcase the new arena to people from across the province while also putting on a first-class event for the student-athletes after another season
interrupted by COVID-19.
“We really want to put on a show for all of the teams,” he said. “These guys have missed so much.”
Sheehy has played three seasons with the Avalanche and said they have always
been a competitive squad. He said they fell short a year ago, losing to the Horton Griffins.
“It made us stronger as a team,” he said.
“We always keep that in the back of our minds, every
time we play.”
Hood said a committee approach has worked for them this season instead of relying on a couple of players to carry the load.
“We’ve been successful when we work together,” he said.
“It’s kind of a team effort every night, so when everyone shows up, that’s when we do the most damage.”
Tye said this year’s squad is unique with the number of veterans in the lineup. He said it started three years ago when they had six Grade 10s.
“Now they’re Grade 12s. It’s neat to see their development,” he said, noting they have a dozen seniors on their roster for provincials.
“We’ve got some size, we’ve got some speed, we’ve got some skill. … We’ve got some guys that are rough
corner and tumble and like the work and we have some young, small guys that just fly. We’re pretty diverse.”
The coach also has the luxury of having two Grade 12 goalies in Jaden Croft and Nolan Oakley, who have split the duties this season.
Tye, who has coached the Avalanche for 15 years, has witnessed the growth of the high school game.
“It’s a good brand of hockey; it really is. They’re fast, they move the puck well,” he said. “And those eight Division 1 teams that are here are all really good.”
Burgess grew up through the West Hants Minor Hockey Association and has played three seasons with the Avalanche.
He’s looking to end his career with a good showing this weekend.
“We’re ready to go,” the five-foot-10, 150-pound winger said.