With the preseason behind them, the Drumheller Dragons are tasked with putting together another successful season, and they have high expectations.
The Dragons are following up their most successful season ever, going all the way to the AJHL final.
The 2014-2015 season starts this Saturday, September 6 for the Dragons when they head to Calgary to play the Canucks.
“We had a really good year last year and we don’t want to fall into a rut. It was such a great ride, we don’t want to sit back on our laurels,” said coach Brian Curran. “We’re trying to get the kids to understand we have quite a mission ahead of us. We want to go back to the finals, we want to win the finals. My goal has always been to put a championship team together every year. That is our goal and we certainly think we have a good start to it.”
With a handful of preseason games behind them, coach Curran likes what he sees, with a solid number of vets, and some new blood. He credits the thorough job the Dragons’ scouts have done.
“We are always going to think we want more, but at the end of the day, for us, I like us from the back-out,” said Curran. “Curtis Skip will be our starter, he had a very good camp.”
On defense, he says they are waiting on a couple players who are at major junior camps, but there is some depth.
“For us we have some surprises on defense with some of younger players, who are doing well,” said Curran. “Our forwards are getting better. We had six or seven coming back from last year and we added on some good pieces to the puzzle.”
He said it is going to be another very competitive season, especially in the Viterra South.
“The South is definitely open to take a run at it. I think we are one of the teams that are right there. There is going to be a lot of parity,” said Curran.
He is proud of last season’s efforts, and every year sets his sights on winning a championship.
“I won’t sit back and accept mediocrity. My goal this year for the team is to win a championship. It was amazing to watch the community support we had last year and I think people enjoyed it, we want to do it again,” said Curran.
“The fans came out and said ‘we really enjoy this kind of hockey.’ Now we want to finish it. We want to put a team out there that is very successful, and have everybody enjoy the product we put on the ice and support and be proud of the team we have here.”
The Dragons’ home opener is Friday, September 12 when they host the Calgary Mustangs.
