By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Optimist Chiefs coming around as stretch run begins

Jan 13, 2019 | 12:33 PM

The Alberta Midget Hockey League’s Red Deer Optimist Chiefs are slowly, but surely becoming the team they need to be in order to ensure a successful post-season run.

Last October, the Chiefs managed to come away with a tie in a game against the Calgary Flames. But following the match-up, head coach Doug Quinn called out his team for its last of consistency and sub-par work ethic, despite the somewhat favourable result.

Fast forward two months to Saturday night where on home ice at Servus Arena, the 16-4-6 Chiefs knocked off the first place Calgary Buffaloes 6-3.

“We were in a little bit of a funk, but we played a lot of hockey in December. We played the Edge tournament in Calgary, and then the Mac’s tournament,” Quinn points out. “We played maybe 15 games in five weeks and you could see we were getting a bit tired mentally and physically.”

While there has been progress, there are still some kinks to work out, admits Quinn.

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“We’re still trying to develop that consistency. We had a really good stretch the first part of December and a pretty good run at the Mac’s tournament, but after that you get that bit of a lull,” he says. “Over the last couple weeks we haven’t been quite as sharp was we need to be.

“I thought today we came ready to play, but what usually happens though is we get up a few goals early, and all of a sudden the other team pushes back. I wasn’t thrilled with the second half of our game, but we still found a way to win.”

To defeat the 18-6-3 Buffaloes is no small feat; that team falls to second in the division with the loss, and then a win Saturday by the Lethbridge AAA Hurricanes. Red Deer now sits in third, despite picking up the two points.

“Overall, we’re always building towards the end of the season and we want to be peaking at the right time,” Quinn states. “I’d sooner have that lull now and we can start building back up again and be ready for the stretch run.”

The Optimist Chiefs have eight games remaining in their regular season schedule. Their next home game is 8 p.m. on Feb. 1 against the currently 16-8-3 Calgary Northstars.