St. Albert's Men of Steel skated into the Alberta Junior Hockey League's lid-lifter Friday stoked with confidence.
"We're going to be a very good team to rival against. We'll be very strong this year," defenceman Jesse Altheim predicted at Wednesday's practice. "We have a strong core of returning players and that's going to play a big part in our success."
The score against the Drumheller Dragons in the Steel's home opener was unavailable at press time. Tonight they host the Drayton Valley Thunder at 7 p.m. at Performance Arena.
"I'm very excited to get the season going," said a fired-up Altheim. "We've got a pretty good core on the back end, some young talent coming in and a lot of returning players up front that will get us far."
After three wins and three losses in the pre-season, the Steel started league play with 12 players off their 2010 playoff roster, and 16 overall with junior A experience. They are carrying only two 20-year-olds: forwards Spencer Pommells (north division all-rookie team selection in 2009/10) and Mike Giese (fourth-year Steel centre).
"If we keep our game up as veterans and teach that young talent coming in to go the same way and work at the same pace as we are, we will definitely surprise some people," Altheim said.
The Steel will only go as far as their much-maligned defence will take them, especially between the pipes where they have historically suffered. Last season they ranked 14th out of 16 teams in goals-against at 260 (4.30 GAA). The previous campaign they finished 13th overall at 237 (3.80 GAA) and during their 2007/08 St. Albert debut were listed 15th at 246 (4.00 GAA).
With four 19-year-old blueliners back from the Steel's sixth-place 24-win and 55-point showing in the north, the pressure is on St. Albert to tighten up defensively.
"It's definitely a goal we have in mind and it's something that we can accomplish," Altheim said. "With two new goaltenders [Rhys Hadfield and Sean Reilly], it looks very promising."
The tough, stay-at-home defenceman will anchor the back end, with captain Ryan Edens [all-time Steel career penalty minute leader with 739 in 174 games] graduating to the college ranks with the NCAA division three Fredonia State University Blue Devils in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
"I really want to step forward as a leader and try and bring some more offence as well," said Altheim, who is gunning for his first Steel goal after 33 games (regular season and playoffs combined) without lighting the lamp. "I want to be the go-to guy in any situation. That would be ideal for me. I believe I can do it if given the opportunity, but I have to earn my spot and see how it goes from there."
Traded by Eagles
The Steel acquired the Stony Plain product Nov. 26 from the Canmore Eagles for future considerations.
"It was a pretty good move for me. I sort of played a tougher role and I became more of a shutdown, go-to guy," said Altheim, a winger in rep hockey before switching to defence with the Leduc Oil Kings in his second year of midget in 2007/08.
In Canmore he had one goal, two assists and 55 PIM in 24 games after collecting 11 assists and 47 PIM in 51 games as an AJHL rookie in 2008/09.
With the Steel, the six-foot, 180-pound defender drew two assists while racking up 90 PIM in 30 games.
"I had a lot of fighting majors," Altheim said with a smile. "One thing in the south is that fighting isn't as big usually as it is up here. In the north, I guess it's expected a little more and when the situation comes up, I'm more than willing to do it.
"Physicality has always been a part of my game."
Altheim will have to pick his spots when to drop the gloves as the AJHL cracks down on unnecessary fighting.
"With the new six fight rule they are trying to get rid of the tough guys, the big boys in the league I guess you could say that are here for just that reason. They're trying to focus more on the finesse side of things. It's going to bring the hockey up more and the fighting down."
After the weekend homestand the Steel have four road games scheduled. Tuesday they visit the Bonnyville Pontiacs and then play three games in three days over the weekend against the Okotoks Oilers, Canmore and the Calgary Canucks. The next home game is Sept. 25 against the Olds Grizzlys at 7 p.m.
ICE CHIPS: In a deal involving defencemen, the Steel dealt prospect Zac Ovics to the Sherwood Park Crusaders for Trammell Lynes and future considerations. The six-foot-one, 190-pound Lynes, 18, posted three goals, six assists and 54 PIM in 34 games last season as a rookie with the Crusaders.
