Fort St. John Huskies ‘focused’ as playoffs near while team enjoy nine-game winning streak

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Huskies continued to piece together wins as the hockey season winds down, including a sweep of games this weekend.

After three wins on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the team has won nine of 10 games in a January that features 14 Strike Group North West Junior Hockey League (NWJHL) contests for the club.

Huskies head coach Todd Alexander says his team is “focused,” with playoff hockey in February quickly on the horizon.

“Honestly, we haven’t even really thought about it too much as far as the games that we are or aren’t winning,” said Alexander. “The focus has really been on just trying to find that playoff-style caliber of hockey that we’re going to have to ramp up and play in order to have success.”

The team began the weekend with an 8-2 win over the Dawson Creek Kodiaks on Friday, January 16th. 

Ryan Ungstad had a two-goal, three-assist performance and Grayden Alexander had a three-point evening. Other goal scorers included MacCoy Willms, Carver Lequiere,​​ Braith Morgan and Kale Weber, who had his first goal of the season.

On Saturday, January 17th, Willms had the winner in the game’s final 10 minutes as the Pups overcame a pesky Fairview Flyers squad by a score of 3-2. Adam Bourgeois and Xavier Burgher had the other goals.

Todd was more concerned about team discipline, with the team giving away 10 power plays to the Flyers, but also stating goaltender Evan Umbach “had a really good performance.”

Umbach had 22 saves, including seven in the third period, to seal the victory on the road. 

“There were a lot of really good saves that he made that allowed us to stay in that game,” said Alexander. “[It was] probably his best game as a Husky this year.”

The team finished off the weekend by taking out the North Peace Navigators by a score of 6-2 on January 18th. Jonny Timmons had a goal and an assist in the win.

The Huskies hope to continue their winning ways in their next game against the County of Grande Prairie Wheat Kings on Friday, January 23rd at the North Peace Arena. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.