Huskies begin three-game stretch with 7-3 victory in Dawson Creek

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —  A tough three-game stretch this week for the Fort St. John Huskies began on a winning note on Wednesday, October 16th, in Dawson Creek.

A four-goal outburst in the first period paced the Huskies, who cruised to a 7-3 victory over the Kodiaks in the opening game of the North West Junior Hockey League’s (NWJHL) fifth week.

According to team head coach Todd Alexander, finding the energy needed to recover from a humbling 8-1 defeat to defending champion La Crete wasn’t difficult.

He added the team elicited the correct response “right out of the gate.”

With a turnover of 16 players on the roster this year, he said the “slap in the face” versus the Lumber Barons was just what the doctor ordered for his young club.

“Winning is difficult,” said Alexander. “The more you accept that, the tougher you become. Not just in sports but in life. It’s the lesson we’re trying to teach here, that nothing comes easy.”

“We had a good start.  Took the pedal off the medal a little bit in the second and had six consecutive penalty kills that kill your momentum. But once we decided to stay out of the box, we recaptured the momentum and finished a lot better down the stretch.”

The Pups got two goals each from forwards Grayden Alexander and Tanner McCracken, with defencemen Kaden Arberry, Connor Cozens, and Jordan LaGreca also adding markers. 

Alexander had an assist for a three-point evening, joining LaGreca, who had a pair of assists, bumping his point total to seven points in eight games. 

The head coach says having the 20-year-old from Chetwynd in his third NWJHL season is a “massive asset.”

“He’s stepped up his game big,” said Alexander. “He’s also said some good things in the locker room. He’s backed that up with his play and his time in practice. He’s one of the better defenders in the league.”

Alexander was equally enthused about his captain, saying his two goals gave the team the right message to “get off the mat” from the loss.

“[Grayden] is in his first year as captain, and he’s learning his role,”  said the head coach. “He’s doing a good job so far and will continue to grow as a leader.”

Game two of the three-game stretch will be on Friday evening at home in the North Peace Arena against the Fairview Flyers. 

Then, on October 19th, the team will head to the Baytex Energy Centre to face the North Peace Navigators.

Scheduled times for both games is 8:00 p.m. Visit the Huskies Facebook page for further details.