The Battlefords AAA Sharks will open their season Saturday, after an extended offseason this year. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Countdown to puck drop

AAA Sharks to kick off season with weekend home-and-home

Nov 20, 2020 | 11:17 AM

The Battlefords AAA Sharks will kick off their regular season this weekend, with a home-and-home versus the Prince Albert Bears.

Saturday afternoon the team will travel to Prince Albert, before returning home for their home-opener the following day in Battleford.

It will be a weekend the team has been waiting for, for some time, since playing their final pre-season game nearly a full month ago, on Oct. 31.

Head coach of the Sharks, Ricci Girolami, said the team is looking forward to getting back on the ice to finally start their season, and play some competitive games again.

“I think they’re all pretty pumped [to get back at it],” Girolami said with a laugh. “There’s a real excitement to get back into the real game situations, but there’s also that fear with all [the latest] COVID stuff that the season could shut down. So as much hockey as we can get in, we’re willing to take.”

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Girolami said it’s been a great last few weeks of practicing. He said he likes the mix of veteran players and youthful exuberance showcased throughout the roster. He noted the team looks to be setting themselves up for a successful year, with their hard work and ability to mesh as a cohesive unit and form a strong team chemistry.

“The nice thing about our club is they are really buying into what the coaches are telling them, and they’re really coming together as a group,” Girolami said. “It’s been going really good, and it’s looking like it’s going to be a positive season.”

The Sharks did open their pre-season schedule with a 5-2 defeat at the hands of P.A., but the team showed a nice bounce-back ability, rebounding quickly to defeat Saskatoon 4-1 in their final tune-up contest.

Girolami said the group are looking forward to getting another crack at the Bears, adding that with so much uncertainty still surrounding what may happen with the hockey season, due to the ongoing pandemic, the team is just glad to be able to take to the ice to play the game they love this weekend.

“We’re all really looking forward to it, and I’m just hoping we can cross our fingers that Saskatoon Health lets us keep playing,” he said. “I think these kids need sports.”

Saturday’s game at the Art Hauser Arena in P.A. will be played at 4:30 p.m., while Sunday’s contest will be back at Battleford Arena at 1:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1