Mixed atoms team wins first game

The Coldwell Banker mixed atom hockey team won their Saturday game 5-3 against all odds.

The Coldwell Banker mixed atom hockey team won their Saturday game 5-3 against all odds.

Goalie Matthew Blindheim was extremely ill for the game, but refused to leave his net despite repeated requests by coach George King.

“I had a very, very sick goalie,” said King. “I wanted him to come out of net but he wouldn’t come out.”

The team came out to an early lead against Envirolube.

After the first period in the locker room, with Coldwell ahead 2-1 already against, the girls and boys were asking their coach what they would get for winning.

And that’s when King introduced the pink helmet.

“Every kid on the team just loved that hard hat,” said King.

The thought of winning the coveted pink helmet made both the boys and girls work even harder than before.

In the third period King switched his defence and forwards, and didn’t see any player slow down.

“The kids are just doing unbelievable,” said King.

The pink helmet in the end was awarded to Blindheim, who battled a brutal flu virus to stay in net and help out his team.

“My little boys and girls are improving,” said King.

King says the win was celebrated like he’d never seen before, in his years as a coach.

“I’ve never seen a group of kids so happy,” he said.

King says another key boy on his team is Mackenzie Wipp-Ben, who the girls are doing their best to take after.

“The little girls are following him, every move he makes,” said King.

With Wipp-Ben’s lead, the girls are learning more and more every game.

“They’re no different than the boys now,” said King.

After each practice or game, King says the boys are approaching him and telling him how much the girls are improving.

King says that by Christmas they should have many more wins under their belts, and they could soon be at the top of the league.

Coldwell Banker will face off against Duncan’s on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Takhini Arena.