LIVERPOOL – The Western Hurricanes Major Bantam Hockey Club is set to host its league provincial championships at Queens Place Emera Centre in Liverpool March 22-25, and two Queens County players will be representing their community.
Liverpool is home for Nate Killam and Kiefer Huskins, both of whom have been playing hockey since they were about four years old.
Killam says the Hurricanes’ season has gone well. In its regular season, the team won 21 games and lost eight. Ten of the Hurricanes’ wins were at home and 11 were away.
“We’re right up there with the top teams,” said Killam, who’s a Grade 9 student at Liverpool Regional High School.
For Huskins, the latter part of the season was a little tougher. The South Queens Middle School student broke his leg in a hockey game Feb. 3. Despite his injury, Huskins has continued to cheer on his teammates from the bench.
And both have learned a lot.
“Working hard and getting better,” said Killam about some of his successes over the season.
For Huskins, the season has brought him more confidence as a player.
Not only have Killam and Huskins had a successful season, but the team as a whole has had some highlights.
“We went to the finals in the Ice Jam in Bedford,” said Killam.
The Chronicle Herald 2018 East Coast Ice Jam tournament took place Jan. 10-14 in Bedford.
“We had a lot of people hurt and out,” said Huskins about the season.
Huskins says that makes it more difficult because players have to train more and work harder to compensate for absent players.
Both players agree the past regular season has taught them a few things.
“Anything can happen in the league; a bottom team can beat a top team, (so) don’t take anything for granted,” said Killam.
Huskins says he learned it’s important to stay fit and not lose momentum.
Although Killam isn’t completely certain what next season will look like, he would like to tryout for the South Shore Mustangs – a major midget team out of Bridgewater.
“I’m just going to keep working hard and training on and off the ice to get better and make it,” he said.
Huskins hopes to be back with the Western Hurricanes in the autumn. He says he plans to get back into shape after not playing hockey for a while.
The Western Hurricanes are set to begin their playoffs against the Novas March 3. The team is scheduled to have two home games at Queens Place Emera Centre against the Novas March 10 from 5-7 p.m. and March 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The first game of the provincial championships is set to take place at 12 p.m. March 22, and the championship game is schedule to take place at 1 p.m. March 25. The tournament will include a total of 18 games.
To learn more about the Western Hurricanes visit http://westernhurricanes.goalline.ca/.
