Huskies ask community to show support at final two games of 2023

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Huskies are rallying the community to join them for the final two games of the year at the North Peace Arena, calling for strong local support. 

Despite an initial setback, the Fort St. John Huskies now rank second in the North West Junior Hockey League (NWJHL) with a 22-4-1 record. The team is currently on a 13-game win streak. 

While enjoying success on the stat sheet, Huskies head coach Todd Alexander says the team has encountered its fair share of challenges in the 2023-2024 season. 

“Honestly, it’s been a season of adversity,” said Alexander.

“We lost our captain six games into the season to a pretty good injury. So, we’ve had to deal with losing one of our better players, and we didn’t have one of our top defensemen in for at least half our games this year so far.” 

Alexander says on top of missing key players from the lineup, the Huskies organization has had “lots of guys going in and out” and has had to tap into the use of affiliate players (AP) from the Northeast BC under-18 Trackers to help fill the bench.

“I think we’ve used the AP situation with the U18 team here in town more than I have in any of the seasons that I’ve coached here,” said Alexander. 

“So, a big thanks to them for supporting us and landing us players so that we’re able to ice the team and [the AP players] have done a good job stepping in and being competitive and getting their feet wet.”

Alexander notes the absence of Huskies captain Kurtis Lee, who suffered a collarbone injury early in the season, has been a big adjustment for the team. 

“We’re hoping to get him back here in January sometime, but we’re not going to rush him back,” said Alexander. 

“Overall, the group has done a good job of filling in in his absence, and he’s done a good job of being a leader and making sure he’s stuck around and been a part of a lot of this too. He’s been there every step of the way. But it’s difficult when you’re a leader, and you can’t go out and show what you’re talking about sometimes, but he’s done an excellent job of it.”

According to Alexander, this year’s roster is heavily populated with new members, and the combination of injuries and a fluctuating lineup has created a “massive learning process” for the group as a whole.

Reflecting on the team’s dynamics, Alexander points out that several returning players struggled to grasp the necessity of consistently working on team culture. 

According to the coach, the misconception lies in assuming that a positive culture automatically persists without ongoing effort. This, he emphasizes, is a key aspect that demands commitment and continuous attention.

“You’ve got to get used to what the coach is seeing, what he wants, and what he’s striving and pushing for,” said Alexander, highlighting the importance of the players aligning with the coach’s vision — an aspect he believes requires genuine “buy-in” and cannot be “rushed or faked.”

Looking ahead and sharing his hopes for the remainder of the season, Alexander wants his team to continue building and showing resilience in the face of adversity. 

“Hopefully, we get a bit healthier here and get a couple more bodies back in January, and I think we might be looking to potentially add a guy or two to the lineup as well,” said Alexander. 

“None of that stuff is a guarantee, but we’re always looking to make sure we’re competitive, and we want to give our group the best opportunity to win as well.”

The Huskies will conclude the year with two consecutive games. They face the Sexsmith Vipers on December 29th and go up against the NWJHL’s current first-place team, the La Crete Lumber Barons, on the 30th.

Alexander hopes to see a large turnout at both games.

“Everybody that is home for Christmas,” said Alexander. “We’re looking for a big crowd and big support there.”

The puck drops for both games at 8 p.m. in the North Peace Arena.