Nearly a week after the annual WHL Cup wrapped up in Calgary, two of Saskatchewan’s skaters in the tournament reflected on time spent with their provincial team and what could have been after their squad tallied one win and four losses.
Both Josh Pillar and Alex Ozar see regular ice time with the Midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos – Pillar as a forward and Ozar as a defenceman. They kept their respective roles while battling against teams from British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba.
The annual round-robin style tournament hosts the best under-16 aged players from Canada’s four western provinces.
The Mintos’ defenceman said the quality of players at the tournament stood out for him.
“I haven’t really seen any of those other players play before, and they were really good – (in their) systems, and they work well together.”
Ozar tallied one goal and three assists through his team’s five games.
Saskatchewan’s lone win came against Manitoba during the round-robin phase of the tournament on Oct. 19.
In that game, Ozar assisted on the game-winning goal, a powerplay marker scored by Austin Dycer.
Comparing that win with his team’s four losses, their puck movement was more effective, Ozar said.
“We were moving our feet and forcing their defence, so they could commit turnovers. But in our other games we weren’t moving our feet. It was making it easier for (the opposing teams’) defence to just bring the puck up.”
Pillar said his team’s puck possession was also better in the winning game.
For more on this story, see the Oct. 27 print or e-edition of the Daily Herald.
