Coach Brian Curran doesn’t mind being the underdog heading into the AJHL finals.
The Dragons pulled off something very few could have predicted and upset the Brooks Bandits to win the AJHL South Final on Thursday night. They are heading to the championship and will be facing either the Spruce Grove Saints or the Fort McMurray Oil Barons.
“Those two teams playing right now in the north are both one and two ranked in the country and have been back and forth all year,” said Coach Curran. “We’ll be walking in as an underdog wherever we go. That is okay, people don’t expect you to win and I like the way our team has come together. I like to believe that if we play our best hockey things will take care of themselves.”
The Dragons played an incredible series versus the Bandits and that culminated on April 3 in Brooks.
The first period was back and forth and ended with a tie at 2. Christopher Rauckman and Jesse Zaharichuk each scored for the Dragons.
The second period was scoreless as the teams matched each other shot for shot. Only a minute and half into the third period Captain Trent Ouellette found the net on the powerplay to score the winner.
“I think the best thing is that it has excited so many people, it’s great to see the way our boys played,” said Curran. “It was a very tough series against a very tough hockey club.”
“Long story short, with the kids, the excitement I saw on their faces and winning the South Division, that was one of our goals. For the fans that came down and the fans at home, the hype is incredible. It is pretty darn good hockey.”
“At times like this it is great to see everybody come around and just want to be part of something.a
Looking back, he says the Dragons have come a long way this season.
“We were in last place after eight games at the beginning of the season. You look at the growth and everything you go through, our scouting staff did a phenomenal job, our staff in the office has done a good job and our ownership and everyone is very supportive,” said Curran. “The players are starting to believe, and the people are starting to believe.
“These moments don’t last forever, and while they are here you have to soak it up and keep pushing as far as you go. We still feel we have as many more moments to go.”
