The Saanich Braves will take their perfect 10-0 road record into Archie Browning Sports Centre tonight where the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League club will face a tough challenge in remaining flawless.
Coach Brad Cook鈥檚 Braves will be a little thin roster-wise as Saanich 鈥� at 22-4-2 and in second place in the South Division 鈥� has struggled with injuries since the team knocked off the Victoria Cougars 3-1 back on Nov. 22.
That key victory stopped a run of consecutive games without a loss, in regulation time, that lasted almost a full calendar year for the Cougars, who play host to the Braves tonight at 7.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to be an easy task. Their record speaks for itself and we鈥檝e got a lot of key guys out of the lineup right now. It鈥檒l be a tall test for the guys who are dressed,鈥� Cook said of facing the 30-1-1 Cougars.
鈥淲e鈥檙e 10-0 on the road, and you can鈥檛 ask for much more than that. That鈥檚 a great statistic, in my mind, and our power play is getting better. It鈥檚 a rare stat, especially in junior hockey,鈥� said Cook. 鈥淚t wouldn鈥檛 be a terrible thing to go 11-0 after [tonight], but it鈥檒l take a huge effort to execute that.鈥�
Cook expects just 11 regulars in his lineup as the Braves remain without Tom Dakers, Jordan Groenheyde, Brandon Parmar, Josh Gray, Max Mois, Shawn McBride, Justin Polischuk and Nolan Kinney.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be a huge test, with that many guys out of the lineup. But, as I always say, it鈥檚 quality over quantity,鈥� said Cook. 鈥淥ther guys want opportunities, so here we go.鈥�
What Cook has received is solid goaltending from Tanner McGaw, who has a 17-4 record with an impeccable 2.26 goals-against average and .926 save percentage. Spectacular numbers for Junior B.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been solid,鈥� Cook said of McGaw. 鈥淗e hasn鈥檛 let in soft goals, he鈥檚 been there when we need him, and that鈥檚 all you can ask of your goaltender.
鈥淚t鈥檚 funny, down the stretch here, like when we beat Victoria, he [McGaw] hasn鈥檛 had to be our best player and that鈥檚 what I love about our team,鈥� said Cook. 鈥淗e hasn鈥檛 had to stand on his head and stop 50 shots.
鈥淲e鈥檝e also not had to have our points leaders have huge nights. The nights where we鈥檝e had our best success, we鈥檝e had everyone going. I think that鈥檚 my favourite thing about this whole season. It鈥檚 a huge message to my team as well.鈥�
A team that has only lost four games in regulation time this season, two to Victoria and once to Nanaimo and Westshore.
The Cougars are the No. 1-ranked team in the province, and the Braves are right behind them as they renew acquaintances tonight.
鈥淚 feel bad for the kids,鈥� Cook said, referring to the injuries. 鈥淗ats off to the guys who have been in the lineup and our affiliated players. We鈥檝e managed to stay on track.
鈥淓verybody has been good. No one has been great,鈥� said Cook. 鈥淎t the end of the day, everyone has their inconsistencies.
鈥淲e鈥檝e won a lot of one-goal games in the last couple of weeks here, which has been a good thing. When you start blowing teams out on a consistent basis, you develop bad habits.鈥�
He hasn鈥檛 had to worry about those so far, especially on the road.
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