Huskies coach still positive despite series split heading into game three

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Huskies know it’s not time to hit the panic button, despite a playoff series which is even before game three 

However, one may think so looking deeper at the Strike Group North West Junior Hockey League (NWJHL) east/west division semi-final between the Fort St. John Huskies and Fairview Flyers.

While the Huskies won all eight meetings between the two during the regular season, half of those games were decided by a goal.

After two games in the playoffs, the Huskies, with a 29-win, nine-loss and one overtime loss record during the regular season, find themselves deadlocked with the Flyers, who managed just five regulation wins all year.

However, Huskies head coach Todd Alexander told Energeticcity.ca his team has played well “in pockets” during the series despite not putting together consistent stretches throughout the first two contests.

“We get pockets of greatness, and then we just get pockets of average right now,” said Alexander. “We have been talking about this all year, about the consistency of the hockey club. The players and the energy and everything that’s about it that gives you the success that you need.

“When they play their best game, it’s dynamite. It’s a fun thing to watch. For whatever reason, we are just not getting this out of that group. That’s something that they [have] got to figure out.”

During Friday, February 6th’s game one at the North Peace Arena, Fairview got the series off to a flying start, running up to a 3-0 lead in the game’s first 10 minutes. 

Huskies forward Xavier Burgher got a pair of goals to bring the Huskies back to within a one goal difference at the end of the first period.  

After the team fell behind 4-2, defenceman Jordan LaGreca and team captain Grayden Alexander scored in the second to tie the game before Burgher had a goal in the third to take the win by a score of 5-4.

The next night was a different story: although Fort St. John had the lead with less than two minutes to play, a penalty by Kalen Flodell gave Fairview the opportunity they needed to draw the match level on the power-play before beating the Huskies in overtime by a score of 4-3.

Goals from the Huskies came from Burgher, Taryn Hoskyn and Sam Loewen. Fort St. John Huskies goaltender Evan Umbach, who came in during game one in relief of starter Evan Baker, had 25 saves in his start in the game-two loss.

Still, Alexander is expecting his team to have a “next game forward” attitude during the playoffs.

Alexander told Energeticcity.ca: “You are never out of the series as long as you continue to win your home games.

“It’s a series….It’s not like a regular season where we can be upset for a week. It is just the first one to three. Doesn’t matter how you get them.”

Game three of the NWJHL east/west division semi-finals goes on Tuesday, February 10th at North Peace Arena. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.

For more details, visit the Huskies’ Facebook or Instagram pages and website.