SPORTS & RECREATIONComets Competitive in Junior League

This year’s IDC/Lorette Comets are in the midst of a competitive season and expect to be in the running for the Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League championship. The Comets consists of players from Île-des-Chênes, Lorette, and the surrounding area.

Head Coach Jesse Pelletier has been with the Comets for the past ten years as a player, manager, and now coach. He says that this year’s league is as tight as he has ever seen it. “Only four points separates first and fifth as of today. That’s unheard of in this league. Usually there is one or two top teams who run away with it and a team that sits in the basement of the standings.” This year, he says, any team can win. 

“We have a veteran squad this year and the expectation is we will compete for a championship.” Pelletier says. “After a very slow start, we’ve come together over the last month, winning six of our last seven games. The play of both of our goaltenders has given us a chance to win every game. We have an extremely balanced group of forwards that all contribute in different ways. Similarly, our defense corps has been solid this season. We have the second least goals against through 13 games.”  

The Comets are headed towards the end of the season in fourth place, with 17 points. Steinbach is currently first, with 20 points. The Comets have three games left to play until the playoffs.

You can go out and cheer on the Comets on January 30 at 8:00 p.m. in St. Jean, February 3 at 8:00 p.m. in Grunthal, and February 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Lorette.

Niverville doesn’t have a team this year in the Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League, which currently is made up of six teams: the Steinbach Huskies, Red River Mudbugs, Springfield Extreme, Grunthal Red Wings, Mitchell Mohawks, and IDC/Lorette Comets.