Junior B hockey coach hopes to add Yukoners to team

The head coach of the Creston Valley Thunder Cats is hoping the addition of a few former Mustangs will help the team build on its previous record-setting season.

The head coach of the Creston Valley Thunder Cats is hoping the addition of a few former Mustangs will help the team build on its previous record-setting season.
Joe Martin said he has guaranteed three spots on his team for Yukoners Kane Dawe, Robbie Stuckey and Joe Densmore. The Creston Valley Thunder Cats play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
“I know what they can handle and I know that they are ready for the league,“ said Martin. “I think they are going to do really well this year. They are going to do well enough that I think next year they will have a few opportunities to move up, not only just one.“
Last year, the Thunder Cats benefitted from the services of four former Mustang players, including Alex McDougall, Andrew Pettitt, Chris Gleason and Kevin Pike.
McDougall and Pettitt had especially great season.

McDougall, who is a defenceman, was selected to the league’s prospects game, which was played in mid January. McDougall’s sound play and creativity earned him a lot of time on the power play and on the ice.
Pettitt was also was crucial for the team’s success He averaged more than a point a game, which was the highest on the team.

Pettitt is currently playing Junior A hockey for the upcoming season, but there is still a chance of McDougall coming back to Creston Valley, which would be a major help to the Junior B team building on the success in 2007-08.
Last season, the Thunder Cats set an all-time record in points with 61. They finished with 28 wins, 19 losses and five ties.
Creston Valley got off to an outstanding start, which saw the team hold onto first place in its division into December.

However, a losing streak in December and January resulted in the squad finishing second overall, behind the powerhouse Fernie Ghostriders, who would go onto win the league title.
Despite a great finish to end the season, the Thunder Cats would drop its opening playoff series against the Kimberley Dynamiters. The squad took the Dynamiters to four games in the best of five series before being eliminated.
Martin said despite losing in the opening playoff round, the season was a success.
“We were kind of disappointed when we finished the way we did, but overall we’re happy with the season and happy with the way things went.“
Martin is no stranger to the Mustangs program and was a former coach for four seasons. He said the Mustangs system is different than other midget programs in the country, which is a real benefit to the players.

“It’s not the typical midget hockey you see across Canada,“ he said. “The Whitehorse Mustangs have to play against adults in the recreational league and for a lot of them to be playing so well they are obviously dedicated to the sport and they work hard at getting better.“
The KIJHL season begins on Sept. 12. Dawe has already committed to playing for the team, but Stuckey and Densmore will attempt to make a Junior A squad. If that doesn’t workout, Martin has guaranteed them spots on the Thunder Cats.
Stuckey, 17, has a tryout for the Langley Chiefs on Aug. 18. Langley is a Junior A team in the British Columbia Hockey League.
Stuckey said if he doesn’t end up making the Chiefs, playing in Creston has a lot of appeal. He said he would enjoy playing under Martin, who coached him for two seasons in the Mustang program.
“A few of my buddies are going down there to, so it would be fun,“ he said.
Stuckey, who has been playing hockey since he was four years old, has been keeping in shape over the summer by participating in hockey camps and off-ice workouts at the gym. He said this summer he has been focussing on improving his speed on the ice, which is one of the major differences between midget and junior hockey.
“In junior that’s the main aspect of it, you need to be really quick or else you can’t keep up.“
Stuckey, who plays in the centre position, said his only expectations heading into his first junior season is to just do his best.
Dawe is choosing to play his first junior season in Creston Valley. He said one of the main reasons was because Martin is the head coach. Martin also coached him for two years when he was in the Mustangs program.
Dawe has also been taking part in hockey camps and doing weight training over the summer. He said he would enjoy playing with his former Mustangs teammates in Creston Valley.
He said McDougall encouraged him to join the Thunder Cats.
“He loved it there,“ Dawe said. “He might come back there too.“
Dawe said he hopes to help the team take the next step for the upcoming season.
“They made it into the playoffs last year. I am hoping to go farther than they did though.“
Martin said he is excited about having Dawe committed to joining the Thunder Cats.

“We don’t have another player like that and I think he is going to be a fan favourite actually,“ he said.

“A lot of people are going to enjoy watching him play and he puts up a lot of points and the guy never stops smiling when he is out there, so he is having a lot of fun.“
He said starting junior playing in a B league can be a benefit to upcoming players.
“It’s a few steps up from Whitehorse AA hockey and it’s one step down from Junior A where a lot of these players want to be playing,“ Martin said.

“It’s not easy coming from AA hockey in Whitehorse to making Junior A because it’s quite a step up. The game happens at a quicker pace, so they spend a year at that level and then they are ready to move on.“
Martin said he hopes to be able to help the players accomplish their individuals goals.
“I want to make sure we help the players achieve their individual goals,“ he said.

“I know they all want to move on in hockey and I want to help them do that by helping them move up to Junior A next year.“