The hard work is starting to pay off, the momentum is building and the team is hitting its stride at the right time. The Northeast Panthers have won eight of their last nine games, including three straight this past week to wrap up the regular season sitting first in Northern Alberta Midget AA Hockey League's East Division.
“We have been at or near the top (of the division) all season and it's important to finish off strong, like we did, and know that that's where we should be,” explained Panthers head coach Mike Pasichnuk.
“The players have all come together over the last month and a half and they get this taste of what it's like to be at the top and I think that just builds their enthusiasm to stay at the top.”
The Panthers finished up the regular season with wins over the Strathcona Warriors Feb. 8, SHC Mustangs Feb. 10 and SSAC Lakewood Chevrolet this past Sunday.
With the wins the Panthers finished with a 22-7-3 record, one point ahead of the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers for first in the division. The Panthers also have a chance to finish first in the league, should the Barrhead Stealers lose or tie its final game of the season Wednesday night.
Not only has the team as a whole been contributing to the team's success but the Panthers have also had individuals stand out as top players in the league.
Panthers leading scorer Mark Dubeau finished at the top of the entire league in scoring this season, picking up 42 goals and 44 assists in 31 games, including a six-point effort Feb. 8. Dubeau's linemates, Mitchel Hebert and Steenn Pasichnuk are tied for sixth in league scoring with 28 goals and 34 assists each.
“Those guys have been huge for us but they aren't our entire team,” said Pasichnuk. “Right through from our goalies, to our defence, through our forwards, the players have allbeen exceptional.”
Pasichnuk believes the hard work the team put in during training camp led to the strong finish to the regular season.
“I really think the hard work these boys have put in this season, especially during training camp and dry land training, is starting to pay off. You can see it as a coach and I think the players are starting to see that their hard work has rewards.”
But the coach was quick to point out that it is only going to get harder from here, as the team enters league and provincial playoffs simultaneously.
“The boys are playing big right now, they're confident, team morale is high. But just because we finished in first does not mean we can go into these games expecting to win,”explained Pasichnuk.
“When you're at the top, everyone else is gunning for you, which means you need to prepare and work that much harder to stay at the top.”
By finishing first in the division, the Panthers receive a bye in the first round of league playoffs. Panthers league playoff action will get underway the last weekend in February.
However, the Panthers will only have a short layoff, as the team takes on Fort Saskatchewan this weekend in a two-game playoff to see which team will represent the zone during provincial championships.
Game one of the two-game series goes in Fort Saskatchewan Feb. 18 at 3:30 p.m. Game two will be at the Centennial Centre in Bonnyville Feb. 19, with puck drop scheduled for 3:45 p.m.
Pasichnuk said the high-calibre hockey this weekend will benefit his team, avoiding the long layoff before league playoffs began.
