The Ile-des-Chenes Elks Peewee B team continued their strong season this month, going 2–1–1 January to improve their overall record to 5–4–5 this season. They are scoring an average of five goals per game while only allowing four goals against per game.
Head coach Patrick Poirier, and his assistant coaches Nick Hebert, Jean-Paul Lafleche, and Don Marion, have done an incredible job getting this team of 12- and 13-year-old boys and girls to play a strong defensive game. The team plays with speed, skill, and structure while making sure they are on the right side of the puck.
The team claimed second place at Niverville’s home tournament in December and are gearing up for another tournament in Teulon on February 8–9. They will then cap off their season with a trip to Souris for the Provincials in March.
Three Players to Watch
In a game against Lorette in early February, Kylan Olson (#12) sparked the comeback by scoring two goals in the third period. However, there’s more to Kylan’s game then just scoring goals. He is a strong skater and has great hockey IQ. Kylan reminded me of a young Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets forward and perennial 30+ goal-scorer.
Goalie Brody Marion (#1) made several solid positional saves and a couple of brilliant glove saves. Marion came up huge when tested throughout the game to help his team secure the win.
Caden Poirier (#10) plays a great defensive game. He uses his excellent speed and stickhandling to navigate through the defensive zone with poise and consistently gets in the right defensive position. Caden is reminiscent of a young Andrew Copp, Winnipeg Jets center and defensive specialist.
“From the beginning of our season, I could not stress enough that if hockey is played with heart, staying mentally focused on the game and by keeping it fun on and off the ice, it guarantees positive results no matter if we win or lose,” says head coach Patrick Poirier. “At this age, in my opinion, hockey is a game of mistakes and continual learning is must. It is about teaching and wanting to learn on how to play smart, positional, and unselfish hockey. One player alone cannot be successful. It requires a group of players that love this game to work together as a collective unit to succeed. I believe our team has demonstrated that this year. Regardless of the standings, I couldn’t be more proud of them this year!”
