The Airdrie Xtreme likely hope 2023 will look the same as the final months of 2022 did.
Airdrie's U15 AAA boys' hockey team is riding high at the top of the Alberta Elite Hockey League's (AEHL) south division standings as the new year gets underway and the regular hockey season resumes following the Christmas break.
Head coach Tyson Soloski cited the overall depth of the Xtreme's roster this season for generating an impressive 19-1 record in the lead-up to the holiday hiatus – a record the team improved upon already with two recent wins to kick off 2023.
“I think our team is just really strong throughout the line-up,” the third-year head coach said. “It allows us to be successful. The work the kids have put in in practice has allowed them to take big strides and it’s been really fun to watch the group continue to progress and get better.
“Right now, we’re feeling really good with the way we’re playing. It’s been a really good season so far and hopefully we can build on it and have a good second half of the year.”
Sporting an eight-point lead over the second-place Calgary Buffaloes in the south, the Xtreme have led their division at both ends of the ice this campaign. They've outscored opponents 127-47 thus far, meaning Airdrie has scored an average of more than six goals per game while conceding an average of just over two per game.
While returning players Riley Boychuck and Finn Bagley have led the team in scoring, Soloski reiterated the team's success has been a full-group effort.
“We can roll out any of our 11 forwards or six defensemen or both of our goalies and we know we’re going to get some high-end play,” he said. “It allows us to be consistent because sometimes if a player is having an off game, the next guy comes in and continues the work. It just allows us to roll our lines and be successful.”
Airdrie's goal differential of +81 is the second best in the AEHL, behind only the St. Albert Sabres. Similarly to the Xtreme in the south, the Sabres are dominating the north division this season, with a 22-1 record and an eye-popping +103 goal differential.
According to Soloski, the Xtreme aren't phased by their northern division counterpart. They've already beaten St. Albert once this season, winning 3-1 against the Sabres at the Rocky Mountain Classic tournament in Calgary back in the early weeks of the 2022-23 season.
However, the AEHL's top two U15 teams haven't faced off since then, in either tournament play or the regular season.
That may change at the upcoming John Reid Memorial U15 AAA tournament, which St. Albert is hosting and the Xtreme are taking part in from Jan. 19 to 22. Airdrie's squad has been asked to take part in the invite-only tournament the last two seasons.
“It was a really good game that we ended up winning 3-1, but they’re definitely a strong team and it’s going to be really tough competition moving forward for us,” Soloski said of the Xtreme's previous encounter against the Sabres this season “They’re also at the John Reid and then we have a league game against them in early February. It’s always good to play a top team.”
The Xtreme are coming off another pair of wins this past weekend, as they downed the Lethbridge Val Matteoti Golden Hawks 8-1 and the Calgary Northstars 6-3.
Up next for Airdrie will be a road game against the Red Deer Rebels on Jan. 13 before a home date on Sunday, Jan. 15 against the Calgary Royals. Puck-drop for the game against the Royals will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Ron Ebbesen Arena.
For scores, schedules, and other info on the Xtreme, visit u15aaa.ca
