Big cats on top

Photo by Brian Melnyk. The Cougars men’s hockey team are perched atop the ACAC standings going into the Christmas break.
The Cougars men’s hockey team is off to a roaring start this season with a 13-1-0-1 record so far.
After facing SAIT on Dec. 4, the big cats don’t play again until Jan. 8. Head coach Jean LaForest said that the team will practice until Dec. 17 and then will have two weeks off before donning the skates once again.
Having been practicing and playing since August, LaForest said that the pressure gets to the players after awhile. “They’ve worked hard,” he said, “I don’t think it’s a balance of losing momentum, I think we need the rest.”
He added that the two weeks off gives the players time to enjoy the holidays with their families, but is confident that his players will stay in shape.
“When they return [from two weeks off] they have to be prepared to go.”
With an outstanding offensive effort this season that has generated 76 goals for at press time, LaForest said that the teams’ success hasn’t been in any one area of offense, defense or goaltending, but a combination of all three.
“I think we’re very fortunate to have that balance,” he said.
The team’s hard work shows itself on the ACAC stat sheets. forward Barry Horman is currently first in the standings with an eight game 14 point streak.
Goaltender Jordan McLaug-hlin is second in the league with a 10-1 record and a save percentage of 0.908.
The Cougars have 13 games left in the season to maintain their hot streak and perch on top of the ACAC standings before post-season play starts Feb.19.
Game time for the team’s final match-up before the holiday break is 7:00 p.m. at Centennial Arenas.
Not to be denied the spotlight, the Cougars women’s hockey team is also first in ACAC standings with a record of 7-3-1-1 at press time.
Head coach Scott Rivett also gave balance as a reason for the teams success so far, “I think we have received contributions from our entire line up which has really helped us,” he said in an e-mail interview.
“Not everyone is going to be on the top of their game every night and when others haven’t had their best game others have stepped up.
The women’s team also practices until Dec.17 but return to the ice a little earlier on Dec.27. Rivett said the team is taking part in a tournament involving the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Ottawa and SAIT.
“Hopefully we can find our game before we start league play again on Jan.8.”
Forwards Chelsey Morrill and Chilla Fedoruk are second and third in ACAC scoring with 13 and 12 points respectively.
The women’s final match up before the break has them meeting last place Red Deer at Centennial Arenas on Dec. 4 at 8:45 p.m.