Titans not letting short bench get the best of them
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This article was published 17/01/2017 (3536 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Commitment is one thing that’s not lacking from the girls’ hockey team at Shaftesbury High School.
The team sits atop the Winnipeg Women’s High School Hockey League’s CTV Division with 24 points, one point ahead of St. Mary’s Academy, despite being short on players.
“We have a short roster because we have a small school,” explained head coach Eugene Kaminsky, who is assisted by Leo Harley.
“So there’s many times we’ve played with 10, and sometimes less than 10 players at times, so in that aspect it’s been difficult but at the same time the girls are committed and they work really hard.
“Even when we have low numbers, they play the game really well, very smart, and they don’t waste a lot of energy.”
Kaminsky said this season’s team is an amalgamation of Shaftesbury’s former high-level, prep hockey squad, which dissolved at the end of the last season, and the school’s WWHSHL roster.
The team includes five former prep hockey players, two of which play full-time.
Although tension can result when combining two teams, Kaminsky said that the Titans haven’t shown any apprehension toward their new teammates.
“I think that’s a key aspect of this success — they work really well together,” Kaminsky said. “Sometimes there’s some difficulties in team sports when you have different personalities. This collection of players seem to understand each other, each role and don’t hold any ill feelings.”
So far, the mix of talents has proven to be a fruitful formula for the Titans. In addition to being at the top of the league, the team recently won the 2016 K-Town Classic in Keewatin, Ont., facing the Dryden Eagles in the final. Throughout that tournament, the Titans had just nine skaters.
“That’s a huge credit to those players and their ability to understand the game and work well together,” Kaminsky said.
The Titans have played some other memorable games this season, Kaminsky said.
Just before the winter break, defenders Deena Scanlon and Emma Klippenstein played 50 minutes straight against the Westwood Warriors, with Klippenstein scoring two goals and an assist. The Grade 12 defender earned a WWHSHL player-of-the-week nod on Dec. 24 for her performance.
“We only had eight skaters and (Klippenstein) said to me why don’t we go with just two defencemen for the whole game?” Kaminsky explained.
“When I talk to friends of mine in the hockey community, they’re amazed to hear something like that. To be able to do that at any level is very taxing on a player and she was able to do it.
“That will be one of those moments that I don’t think I’ll be able to forget.”
Looking ahead, the Titans are working towards a position in the playoffs and aim to be competitive, with players making up in skill what they lack in bodies.
“We’re hoping at the end of the day we get an opportunity to play in the finals.
“There’s a lot of good teams and we’ve lost some good games against some very good teams with our full roster, so I know it’s not going to be in any way easy to get to the finals,” Kaminsky said.
The Titans play the Dakota Lancers on Jan. 20 at 4:30 p.m. at Southdale Community Centre (254 Lakewood Blvd.).