CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The Central Attack set lofty goals in September and has four more days to accomplish the last one of its checklist.
The Charlottetown-based squad begins play Thursday at the five-team Atlantic major bantam AAA championship at the St. Margaret’s Arena and Community Centre in Upper Tantallon, N.S.
“Our top goal was not just to be here but to win,” said Isaac Vos, a 14-year-old defenceman from Charlottetown.
The Attack was the class of the Island league this season, compiling a 28-2-0 record and sweeping its way through two playoff rounds to capture the provincial title.
“We’re all just good buddies,” Vos said when asked for the team’s recipe for success. “On the ice, we’re just a fast, puck-moving team. Everybody gets along good; everybody likes each other, and we just have good chemistry.”
The team also won the Monctonian and Spud tournaments against some of the region’s top teams and has one more thing to check off its to-do list.
“It’s a fun experience with all the wins,” said Colby Huggan, a 14-year-old forward from Charlottetown. “Hopefully, we can cap it off by winning Atlantics.”
He said the team has worked hard all season and stayed humble despite the success. The players have pushed one another in practice to get better.
The Attack isn’t cocky, but the team is confident in its ability. It comes from the successful season but also from knowing that when it doesn’t bring its best performance, it will be on the outside looking in, as happened during the seeding round at The Chronicle Herald East Coast Ice Jam in January.
Head coach Jeff Squires said the squad has turned a lot of heads this season but added those who follow this level of hockey across the region wouldn’t call his team the favourite to win the Atlantics.
“It’s been a long time since a team from P.E.I. has been a favourite. . . I don't think anybody is willing to play that card on a P.E.I. team,” he said.
“Inside of our dressing room, we’re not going to take a backseat to anybody. We know we’re a very good hockey team and we’re going to go over there and prove it.”
The Attack won’t ease into the competition. They play Halifax and the host team on Day 1.
“Our message to the players is it will be the toughest day in their young hockey career,” Squires said. “We’re going to break Thursday down into six periods and take it very slow and methodical.”
The Attack’s depth has been key to its success all season as it has rolled all of its forward lines, defence pairs and goaltending tandem. It has worked as different players have risen to the occasion when called up in crucial situations.
Huggan doubled his point production from 25 in his first bantam season to 61 this season. He started the year with Cam Squires and Kal White but is now playing with Keegan Callaghan and Jamie Collins.
“It doesn't really matter who you play with on this team, you know you’re going to do well,” Huggan said.
Many of the Attack players have experience playing at the Atlantics. The core of the team went 2-0 to open the peewee tournament two years ago in Conception Bay, N.L., before the flu ran through the team. They won the bronze medal that year and are looking to add gold to its collection this season.
“We’re not going in there hoping,” Squires said. “We’re going in there very focused with the goal to win.”
Huggan said the excitement has been building the past few days.
“You’re in class and you’re just waiting for the bell to ring so you can go and practice and get ready for Atlantics,” he said.
Need to know
A look at the Central Attack’s roster and schedule for the Atlantic bantam hockey championship.
Roster
Goalies
Jack Howatt
Shannon MacDonald
Defence
Luke Coughlin
Landon MacDonald
Will Morrison
Nathan Mossey
Isaac Vos
Forwards
Brett Arsenault
Daimyan Boyle
Keegan Callaghan
Jamie Collins
Colby Huggan
Chris Koughan
Bates Ling
Jonah MacDonald
Max Sentner
Cam Squires
Kal White
Tyler Worth
Coaching staff:
Head coach Jeff Squires
Assistant coach K.J. White
Assistant coach Chris Hedefine
Manager Mark Arsenault
Trainer Jessica Xu
“We put a lot of emphasis on our practices this season. . . I give credit to the guys. They came with a real workman-like effort to practice on a regular basis and they kept challenging themselves.”
Head coach Jeff Squires.
Schedule
Thursday
1 p.m. – Central Attack vs. Accel Physio (Halifax).
8 p.m. – Central Attack vs. The Gulls (host).
Friday
7 p.m. – Central Attack vs. Dieppe Flyers.
Saturday
9 a.m. – Central Attack vs. St. John’s Hitmen.
Playoffs
Sunday
10 a.m. – Bronze medal game.
1:30 p.m. – Gold medal game.
Website – http://bantam-male.atlanticaaahockey.ca/index.php
Related links
Jack Howatt gives Central Attack elite goaltending
Atlantic bantam hockey championship
Central Attack wins P.E.I. bantam title
