For the first time all season, the Moose Jaw Generals are a healthy squad. Now that players have returned from injury and other commitments, the Generals will be looking to continue their strong start this season.
“We had a healthy lineup all weekend long for the first time and we got out of the weekend healthy,” stated Generals head coach Ray Wareham.
The Generals swept the Tisdale Trojans last weekend and sit tied for first place in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. The team will now have a busy weekend as they leave Thursday for Grand Forks, N.D. to take place in the 2012 Hockey Academy Midget AAA Showcase Tournament.
“We are heading to Grand Forks healthy and hopefully we come back that way,” said Wareham. “Hopefully with everyone healthy and the lines set, we can develop that chemistry.”
The Generals have been clicking on almost all cylinders — 5-on-5 action, power play and on the penalty kill. The team won’t be looking to change too much at this tournament, rather just improve on some areas.
“We won’t change much. If other teams are doing things, we may tweak things a bit,” he said. “Our defensive play has still been suspect at times. That is going to be a focus of us, but we won’t change a whole lot. We are going to continue to do what we do and hopefully just keep getting better.”
The team will open up the tournament against the Winnipeg Thrashers, who are leading the Manitoba Midget AAA Hockey League.
“They are always tough and should be a good competition,” said Wareham.
The will also face the San Jose Sharks, Red Deer and the Okanagan Hockey Academy throughout the competition.
For more on this story, read an upcoming edition of Times-Herald.
