BY SCOTT HADDOW
The Onaping Falls Huskies AAA Bantam squad is
a team that sticks together through thick and thin.
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The Huskies have established
themselves as one of the top AAA bantam teams in
Ontario this season. Joshua Patrick (10) cheers on his
teammates. |
The overall dedication to one another
throughout the entire organization has propelled the Huskies
into a dogfight for top spot in the Northern Ontario AAA Bantam
Hockey League (NOBHL) with Sault Ste. Marie.
The Huskies are in second spot with an
impressive 17-5-0-0 record.
"The team is doing well because of the work
ethic and dedication by everyone in the organization," said
head coach Dave Berthelot. "A prime example of this dedication
is when I gave a player three laps around the rink as
punishment for an off-the-cuff remark. By the second lap, all
the players joined in and skated with the player. It speaks
volumes about this team and what they're willing to do for one
another."
The Huskies are working towards an
All-Ontario AAA bantam championship.
"It's been team, team, team this year," said
Berthelot. "We have a good team this year and the sky's the
limit. Every player brings something to the table consistently.
We need to stay healthy, keep working hard, as there's no
substitute for it, and we need to remain focused and committed
for
success."
The Huskies were down in the dumps earlier
this year when they were unable to compete in the Big Nickel
AAA Hockey Tournament (BNHT) because of a technicality. The
event attracts some of the best teams in the province and is
used a benchmark for squads aspiring for provincial
glory.
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Nick Esposto (19) and the Huskies
are a top AAA bantam team in Ontario gunning for
provincial supremacy. |
"We've moved on and are turning that negative
into a positive," said Berthelot. "We will play in the Toronto
Marlies tournament, and that will be our benchmark. We've taken
18 strangers and formed them into a competitive club in seven
months. I have the best coaching staff I have ever had
and
we're trying our best for the kids because
it's all about them."
The Huskies are also front and centre in the
league leaders categories.
The squad features four players in the Top-10
in scoring, including league leader Nick Esposto, who has 20
goals and 52 points in 22 games.
Esposto epitomizes the Huskies' spirit.
The 14-year-old travels two hours one way from Manitoulin for
practices and games. Esposto wouldn't have it any other
way.
"We have a good thing going here," said
Esposto. "We have a big team with a lot of strong players.
Confidence is high, but we're not too cocky. We play hard every
game and we want to win All-Ontario's this season."
The Huskies have a scary offence. Besides
Esposto, three other players are in the Top-10 for scoring
including Jamie Haines (third with 41 points), Stephane Demore
(sixth with 34 points) and Nathan Beer (seventh with 32
points).
"We have tremendous talent up front," said
assistant coach Noel Caya. We have a lot of guys who can bury
the puck. Everyone in the organization is pulling in one
direction. It was unfortunate the kids didn't get to play in
the BNHT, but it's given them extra motivation to be
successful."
The Huskies are anxious for the playoffs and
a potential championship banner.
"We have a group of guys that respect one
another and it would mean a lot to win a provincial
championship because it would be the first time," said
Haines.
The Huskies are in action all weekend at the
Jim Coady Arena in Levack. They play Sudbury on Saturday at
1:30 pm and 7:30 pm, followed by a high-noon contest on
Sunday.
Follow all the action at
www.nobhlaaa.com/huskies
.
