Huskies suffer 1-0 loss to CJHL’s Morinville Jets at provincials

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The first game for the Fort St. John Huskies at provincials ended in defeat on Wednesday evening. 

The Strike Group North West Junior Hockey League champion Fort St. Huskies stumbled out of the gate at Hockey Alberta Junior ‘B’ Provincials on April 2nd.

The Pups fell by a score of 1-0 to the Capital Junior Hockey League champion and host Morinville Jets.

Defenceman Graeme Hampton was the hero for Morinville on a third-period power play goal.  

Huskies head coach Todd Alexander said the extensive travel his team had to do in the past five days made it tough to practice.

“We played on Saturday night, had a hard-fought battle [in La Crete],” said Alexander. “[We then] travelled home seven hours early [Sunday] morning, [then] had a rest day on Monday.

“[We then] got up early in the morning [and] travel[led] another seven hours on Tuesday. We were a little groggy [and] no practice time to shake any of that off and get a good sweat in.”

Despite the loss, from a statistical standpoint, the Huskies seemed to dominate play. They outshot the Jets 30-26, including 16 to 8 in the final frame. 

“We had more dangerous chances,” said Alexander. “[Jets’ goaltender Noah Freerksen] played well. [There’s] a few decisions we’d like back for sure to capitalize on some of the things we missed.

“We got a good sweat in, [our guys] touched the ice and battled out there.”

The Huskies are back in action against the Calgary champion Northwest Calgary Athletic Association’s Stampeders on Thursday afternoon, April 3rd.  Puck drop is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Fort St. John time.

More details about the Hockey Alberta Provincials is available on the tournament’s website.