‘Not playing to our best ability’: Huskies’ bench boss on team’s defensive performances

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Huskies’ weekend was eventful, despite only one game on the ice.

The defending Strike Group North West Junior Hockey League (NWJHL) champions headed to Fairview on Saturday, December 6th for a scheduled game versus the Flyers.

This was 24 hours after a scheduled matchup at the North Peace Arena – against the Sexsmith Vipers  – was postponed due to “severe road conditions” preventing travel, according to the NWJHL.

Huskies’ head coach Todd Alexander told Energeticcity.ca that Fairview – winners of just three games a year ago – is “much improved”, and it showed on Saturday.

Fort St. John rallied from a first-period two-goal deficit, needing overtime to dispatch the Flyers’ by a score of 5-4. 

Goal scorers included MacCoy Willms, Jonny Timmons, Xavier Burgher and Jordan LaGreca, who got the game winner in overtime.

Fairview scored four goals on just 20 shots, something Alexander told Energeticcity.ca was due to a lapse in defensive structure over the past three games.

The Huskies have allowed a combined 14 goals in contests versus the Flyers, Dawson Creek Kodiaks and La Crete Lumber Barons.

“I don’t think that we were playing at our best ability,” said Alexander. “When we gave something up, it was a really good look. Defensively, we weren’t making a save when we were giving those looks up.”

He added, during the last three games, his team has been making “pretty poor decisions” on the defensive side of the puck, something needing to be addressed before Alexander’s team has its next game against the Beaverlodge Blades on Saturday, December 13th.

The Blades had 40 shots and grinded out a 6-4 win against Fort St. John in the teams’ last encounter on November 21st.

“[That game] is also another great example of poor play on our behalf,” said Alexander. “We didn’t play a very good team game when we were there, and it cost us.

 “We are just looking to find that consistency and to have guys understand roles and situations a lot better than what we have been. That’s exactly what we will go out and try to do against Beaverlodge.”

Game time is set for 8 p.m. at North Peace Arena. For more, visit the Huskies’ Facebook and Instagram pages or website.