‘We’re not at that level’: Trojans learn lessons from league’s best

Sweeping the three-game stretch or even taking two of three would have put the Trojans within striking distance of the top teams in the SMAAAHL – the Blazers, Warriors, Saskatoon Contacts, and Regina Pat Canadians – but it leaves sitting eighth overall in the league standings with 23 points in 23 games (11-11-0-1). They trail the Blazers, Contacts, and Warriors by 10 points.

“We’re not where we want,” Kubat told northeastNOW. “We want to be a top team in the league and the top team showed us that we’re not at that level. [Moose Jaw is] a team that might be one of the best teams we’ve played in the league, if not the best. Right from the swagger they have, just how they play as a team, to the depth they have, the defense, the goaltending… I would like to see our team hopefully get there one day. These are good tests for our guys and we’re going to learn from it.

“We are going to realize what it takes and how we have to play the whole 60 minutes and can’t take any shifts off.”

There were positives to build on and negatives to address during the Trojans’ home stand against the Warriors. Kubat credited how his team stayed resilient while trailing in both games, but admitted how difficult it was to not have a single lead in either game.

The 2019-20 Trojans are still a relatively new squad from coaching and management to the players on the bench.

Kubat is in his second year with the Trojans organizations. It’s his first as head coach after taking over from Darrell Mann. Assistant Coach Daven Smith and General Manager Cole Simpson are both in their first years with the Trojans.

Only five players returned from the 2019 Telus Cup Bronze Medal winning squad (left wing Kalen Ukrainetz, centre Trenton Curtis, right wing Mackenzie Carson, defenceman Zac Robins, defenceman Jeremy Hancock). Only one other veteran who played a full SMAAAHL season was added (defenceman Rylan Donald). Two other players in their final year of Midget AAA eligibility were brought on board (forward Mario Fortier and forward Ethan Lang).

If that wasn’t enough of a turnover, the Trojans lost projected first-line center Jayden Wiens to the Saskatoon Blades and projected starting goaltender Carter Serhyenko to the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League.

Even with the roster the Trojans have, they’re still running short with Donald, Fortier, and defenceman Drayton Hvidstion out of action with injuries until the New Year.

Kubat said he didn’t have any goals in terms of where the Trojans would end up in the standings; he wants everyone to get better every day. While the team is almost completely different compared to last season, he notices an aspect the Trojans need to work on after having been behind the bench for half a season.

A consistent, competitive effort from his roster every evening.

“I thought the complete level for most of your guys was there both days and that’s something we’ve struggled with a little in the past,” he said. “But most guys aren’t going to cut it. We need every guy having the compete level.

“I think guys come here and think ‘alright I made the Tisdale Trojans, I get to wear the jacket, I get to be the cool guy in school’ or whatnot they think, and at the end of the day that’s going to get you about as far as this. Our goal is to get the guys the next level and some guys have to look in the mirror and have a little reality check of what Midget AAA hockey is about and what we expect from them as a coaches.

“I don’t know… I couldn’t really look at my teammate in the eye if I knew I didn’t give everything I could. You’re here to play hockey and to put your best effort in and it’s tough when you don’t see that from everyone.”

The Trojans look to bounce back against one of the SMAAAHL’s other best teams – the Regina Pat Canadians – when they visit them on Friday, Dec. 6.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow

by Aaron Schulze

‘We’re not at that level’: Trojans learn lessons from league’s best

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