It’s been as good a start of a season the Peewee Rep Seawolves could have hoped for.
With last Saturday’s 26-0 drubbing of Burns Lake, the team is now 10-0 in regular season games. Coach Vince Aceto had nothing but good things to say after the game.
“Speed and puck possession were definitely key, as well as puck movement. They did well, no one player scored individually and everybody was moving the puck around, so I think that was key,” he said.
The big win came despite plenty of penalty trouble in the second period. The Seawolves took eight penalties in the frame, leading to three separate 5-on-3 opportunities for the Bruins. But even then, Rupert’s team was totally dominant, giving up few scoring chances.
“There were no bad habits in today’s game. When the games are blown out, you tend to get kids who are trying to be too individual, but our guys were moving the puck around and everybody was doing their role,” Aceto said.
The Seawolves dominated the game from start to finish, consistently playing the puck in the Burns Lake zone. They showed great stick handling, scoring some pretty goals. Even when the Bruins did get the puck of their own zone, they struggled to get anything going against the Rupert defence. Goalie Elly Lowe didn’t have many challenges, but she was good when she had to be.
Noah Aceto led the charge, scoring six goals and four assists. He looked strong on the ice and on occasion, danced his way through the defenders to create a scoring opportunity with good stick handling.
But the coach wasn’t kidding when he said nearly everybody was on the scoresheet. Eleven different players scored a goal and every single player registered a point. Chase Leighton-Stevens netted four goals and an assist, Mitch Mann scored one goal and four assists, but besides that, the scoring was spread out.
The Seawolves used strong offence, defence and goaltending enroute to a tenth straight regular-season win.
The game comes on the heels of the two games the Seawolves played on Nov. 26, against Terrace and Houston. The team beat Terrace 4-1 in what is considered the biggest win of the season to date. Aceto said the Terrace team claim they are one of the stronger teams around.
“It’s good that our guys showed that they can compete. That’s what we ask for every game, even if we’re on the short end of the stick,” he said.
It was a disciplined, defensive game and the coach is proud of his players for their effort. It meant even more because Terrace is a Tier 3 team, while Rupert is Tier 4. The Seawolves also beat Houston 14-0.
Next up is a Peewee Rep tournament in Prince Rupert this weekend. The four-team event, including teams from Terrace and Smithers, will take place from Friday evening until Sunday morning.