It’s been a positive first half of the 2018-19 season for the Edge Mountaineers midget prep hockey team. After 16 games, the Springbank-based, private-school team is second in the midget prep division of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), boasting an impressive 13-1-2 record. Furthermore, the team has two games in hand compared to the division toppers – Shawnigan Lake. Head coach James Poole said multiple factors have contributed to the Edge’s successful season. “Week by week, I think we’re getting more confidence that we’re legitimate contenders to win the league, this year,” he said. “We’re a tough team to play against, with our speed and with our ability to move the puck on the back end.” Another positive factor, Poole said, is that scoring contributions have been spread out across the team. As of Nov. 22, all 18 players on the roster (excluding goaltenders) have earned at least four points, and all but one player has found the net with a goal. “You look at our roster and our points, it’s been fairly balanced throughout the lineup,” Poole said. “You can’t just point at one or two players that you attribute our success to.” Stability on defence and special teams has also helped matters, according to Poole. “We’ve been a tough team to score against – our penalty-kill is outstanding, and our goaltending’s been good,” he said. The Mountaineers’ two netminders – Parker Sawka and Nicholas Rimmer – have save percentages this season of .957 and .932, respectively. The two 16-year-olds have conceded just 21 goals between them. “Both guys’ stats are exceptional,” Poole said. According to Poole, five Edge players have already signed standard player agreements with Western Hockey League teams. Others are eyeing a move up to the Junior A level, he said, before hopefully committing to American programs in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Regardless of the route his players are taking towards a hopeful career in professional hockey, Poole said their high aspirations have made the team a fun one to work with. “The nice thing about our group is that they’re all motivated to move beyond midget prep and go to the next level,” he said. “You can see it in their attitude, wanting to become better hockey players every day.” The team’s most recent game, Nov. 20, saw the Edge skate to a 5-0 shutout over the International Hockey Academy. Despite the positive result, however, Poole said he felt it was a messy performance from both teams. “I think both coaches were a little unhappy and I think our goaltender made the score a little more flattering than it was,” he said. “We seemed to be trading chances back and forth, and both teams were turning pucks over. “I’d call it a sloppy game, but anytime you can get a 5-0 win, you’ll take it and move on to the next one.” The Edge’s next games took place Nov. 24 and 25 (after press time) in a home-and-away series against the last-placed Banff Hockey Academy. The Mountaineers’ following three fixtures will be during a road-trip to Victoria, Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. The Springbank team will kick off its trip to Vancouver Island against the Pacific Coast Hockey Academy, before a top-of-the-table clash with Shawnigan Lake. The Edge’s trip will conclude with a game against the West Van Academy. Considering the CSSHL season is now halfway done, Poole noted there are some important games on the horizon. “Looking at the league, there are five, six, seven really good teams in the midget prep division and I’d say 12 solid programs,” he said. “That top five, there is a little separation now between the rest of the pack.”
