Strong Start: KHA Sets the Standard at First Showcase of the Season
By Kelvin Cech, KHA General Manager and Associate Coach
The first games of the season always carries a certain edge. There’s anticipation, nerves, and the unknown of how all the hours of practice will translate when the puck drops for real. This weekend, both the 17U and 18U teams proved that the habits and details built over the past three weeks are already shaping our identity.
It was also the first real glimpse of the payoff from all the recruiting done over the summer. The 17U team is new - like, completely new - every single player joined the program this year. The 18U squad also features a number of fresh faces blending with returning players. Seeing both groups come together so quickly, showing structure, chemistry, and resilience in just their first showcase, is a credit to the work everyone has put in since arriving in Cranbrook.
We saw goals scored with the exact shots we’ve been drilling in practice. We saw goaltenders stand tall with defensemen battling in front to clear rebounds. And we saw puck movement. That's the kind of quick, connected hockey that sets a standard for what’s possible this season.
Defence Driving the Offence
Coming into the year, one of our points of emphasis was asking our defencemen to contribute more aggressively in the offensive zone. That mindset came to life this weekend. Both groups of blue-liners weren’t shy about pinching down the wall, stepping off the line, and keeping plays alive.
For the 18U team, that effort showed up on the scoresheet with three goals from defensemen and a couple of near misses off the crossbar. The forwards did their part too, using the points effectively and planting themselves in front of opposing goalies to make life difficult. It was a full-team effort, the kind of connected play that makes hockey such a beautiful game.
Lessons in Control
Of course, no weekend is without its challenges. The 17U team opened their first game by outshooting the opposition 12-1 in the opening frame, yet only had a 1-0 lead to show for it. Frustration crept in, voices rose on the bench, and suddenly it felt like the referees were the enemy.
The 18U group went through a similar experience, and it cost them in the early going of their first game. But here’s the lesson we talked about right away: hockey isn’t fair, and neither is life. What matters is how we handle it. We don’t get to control the calls. We do get to control our focus, our body language, and the way we respond.
As the weekend went on, the players adjusted. Emotions settled, discipline improved, and both teams ended up playing with more composure. By the end of the showcase, penalties were down and our players were using the chaos of the game as an opportunity to regroup, reset, and get back to work.
Building a Foundation
That’s really what this first showcase was about; building a foundation. Yes, the goals and wins matter, but even more important are the habits, the lessons, and the resilience that will carry us through the long year ahead.
And those habits lead to wins anyways.
This weekend showed us glimpses of the team we can become: fast, connected, and composed, no matter the circumstances. It’s a long season, and it will fly by in an instant. But if this first showcase is any indication, it’s going to be a year worth remembering.
Showcase Results
18U
-
Game 1: 4-2 Loss vs. Lethbridge United
The opener was a back-and-forth tilt, with the 18U side creating chances but unable to bury enough to pull away. A tough lesson in how every shift matters. -
Game 2: 6-1 Win vs. Lloydminster
Talk about a response! The boys bounced back in a big way, pouring on the offence and controlling the game from start to finish. A statement win that showed this group’s potential when they stick to their habits.
17U
-
Game 1: 7-0 Win vs. Calgary Stallions
The 17U debut couldn’t have been scripted any better. A brand-new team took the ice for the first time and left with a decisive shutout victory. -
Game 2: 3-2 Win vs. HC Edmonton
This one had all the drama. Tight checking, chances both ways, and a finish that tested the group’s composure. The 17U squad bent but didn’t break, grinding out a gutsy win. -
Game 3: 6-1 Win vs. Wolves HC
By the final game of the weekend, the chemistry was clicking. The 17U group rolled to another convincing win, closing out an undefeated showcase in style.
