The St. Paul Jr. B Canadiens have had a bit of a breakout season in 2014, as the team was sitting in third place heading into the NEAJBHL's Christmas break, and closed out the year with a win in Vermilion, followed by a win in Frog Lake. On Dec.
The St. Paul Jr. B Canadiens have had a bit of a breakout season in 2014, as the team was sitting in third place heading into the NEAJBHL's Christmas break, and closed out the year with a win in Vermilion, followed by a win in Frog Lake.
On Dec. 20, the Canadiens made the trip to Vemilion to take on the Tigers. Head coach Joe Young says the game was a good one, and “we stuck with the gameplan,&” to take home two points.
He says the team had to kill off some penalties, and acknowledged that the Tigers are a hardworking team. It was the Tigers who started the scoring with a goal in the first period, but the Canadiens' Ryley Wozniak tied the game at one before the start of the second period.
A Tyler Bunce goal gave the Canadiens the lead in the second period, but the Tigers came back and tied to game before heading into the third. The third period saw the Canadiens steal the lead again with a goal by Jordyn Wozniak, and a goal by Dyson Roy.
The game ended with a score of 4-2 for the Canadiens.
The next day, the Canadiens took on the Frog Lake T-Birds in what Young described as possibly the team's “worst game of the year,&” adding, the team was lucky to walk away with a win.
Bryton Beattie opened the scoring for the Canadiens in the first period, while the T-Birds managed to tie it up in the second. The Canadiens' Beattie found the back of the net twice in the second period to give the Canadiens a 3-1 lead heading in the last period.
The T-Birds rallied for a second goal but Bunce rounded off the night's scoring, again giving the Canadiens a 4-2 win.
“I think the guys were already on Christmas break,&” said Young.
However, the successful rebuild of the team cannot be denied this season. Compared to two seasons ago, the team's success is above and beyond.
This year, “we got over the hump and have become a contending team,&” said Young. He admitted that at times it's felt like “a long grind,&” and there have been some “sleepless nights,&” but the Canadiens are back to being a respectable team within the organization.
He said his goal is to field a team that can compete on any given night.
When asked what he believes the reason for the team's turnaround has been, Young points to the players first.
“Obviously, coming from a total rebuild, you need the commitment of the players,&” he said, adding, the team brought in some good players and “Everybody bought in to what we wanted to accomplish.&”
Young said the entire Canadiens organization should be brought of the team's accomplishments in 2014, from the players to the many volunteers and board members who have been part of the rebuild.
“Everyone should be proud . . . of where we're at.&”
