It’s only one season in the books, but Jamie Brake expects to see growth in the provincial minor midget hockey program next winter.
Brake is the head coach for the Western Knights entry in the three-team provincial minor midget hockey league that wrapped up last week with the Knights taking first place with a 7-3-2 record.
Brake considered the first attempt at a league concept for minor midget to be a huge success with a lot of quality hockey played by all three centres.
Last season there was no league play and minor midget teams were limited to participation in the annual provincial minor midget hockey championship, but this year league officials were able to get three teams committed to a league schedule that saw teams play in various venues in their respective regions.
The minor midget program provides a game of hockey for players who don’t make the major midget squad or players who weren’t interested in making the big commitment required to play hockey almost every weekend at the major midget level.
Brake was impressed with the quality of players sprinkled throughout the league and he loved the fast pace and heavy hitting that he witnessed.
“It seemed like guys we’re out to prove themselves,” he said.
The Knights will be hitting the ice for a few workouts over the next two weeks to prepare for the 2018 World’s Finest minor midget hockey championship scheduled for Feb. 22-25 in Glovertown.
The provincial tournament will feature the three league teams joined by an entry from Labrador with games getting underway Feb. 23 and a champion declared on Feb. 25.
