Colton Halvorson is thrilled to be back on the ice with the Carrot River Outback Thunder.
Last season, the Colonsay product’s rookie campaign was limited to 18 games due to concussion issues. Halvorson has already played in 15 games this time around.
“The best part about being back with the team is getting to be back with all the guys,” the 19-year-old said. “Most of them I only get to see during the season so it’s really nice. Getting to spend almost every weekend with them is something I’m truly grateful for.”
Last week Carrot River went 0-2 at home. The Outback Thunder lost to the Regina Silver Foxes, 3-2, in a shootout on Saturday and then fell to the Saskatoon Westleys, 5-2, on Sunday. Carrot River is 6-4-5 on the season. The Outback Thunder sat fifth in the Prairie Junior Hockey League’s Bob Dybvig Division, as of Sunday, just one point of two teams tied for third. Carrot River has lost its last four games.
Carrot River hosts two more games this week to close out November. The PJHL-leading Saskatoon Quakers visit on Saturday night, while the West Central Rage are in town on Sunday evening. Trevor Logan, the Outback Thunder’s head coach, said his team needs to focus on being prepared to play 60 minutes.
“We also need to establish better net drives and get shots with traffic and guys going to the net for rebounds,” he said. “We also need to get our power play rolling, which is something we will need to click to have success against the Quakers and West Central. Penalty kill is also something that needs work especially facing two teams with high-end skill.”
Halvorson said the hardest part of last year was admitting to himself and his family that he was done for the season. Halvorson is the son of Dwaine and Michelle. His grandmother, Alice Yurkowski, lives in Carrot River and was a frequent face in the stands when he played.
“I felt really bad leaving my grandma Alice since she never got to watch me play hockey a whole bunch growing up. Every home game she was always there sitting in the exact same spot.”
His problems did not stop after he left the team and returned home to get better.
“Every day after moving home was a little bit different,” Halvorson said. “I would constantly get headaches. Some days were better than others. So far this season I’m feeling 110 per cent better than last season.”
The Outback Thunder are certainly glad to have the 5-foot-9, 168-pound forward back. He has one goal, five points, and 34 penalty minutes through Sunday.
“Halvy is a guy with a lot of speed and plays a physical game. I think the last few weeks he’s just started to get back to where he was last year,” Logan said. “His role is shutting down other team’s top lines and creating energy.”
Halvorson is currently working at Saskatoon Water Sports. He plans to attend university in the future to become a teacher.
Silver Foxes 3, Outback Thunder 2 SOT
Extra time has not been a friend to the Outback Thunder this season. On Nov. 18, the team fell for the fifth time this season in a game that went to overtime or a shootout. With a 3-2 shootout loss to Regina, Carrot River did earn a point to help it in the tight Bob Dybvig Divison standings. Logan said the Outback Thunder were outworked by the Silver Foxes, who were 2-12-4 as of Sunday.
“As I’ve said before, you can’t take nights off against anyone in the league regardless of their record and that’s what we did.”
The Silver Foxes and Outback Thunder traded goals in the first and second periods. Neither team scored in the third. In the shootout, Regina scored once on three shots, while Carrot River was unable to.
Kyle Njaa had a goal and an assist on the night for the Outback Thunder. Nick Peterson also scored. Ben Gilbertson made 52 saves on 54 shots. The Outback Thunder took 36 shots.
Westley 5, Outback Thunder 2
The Westleys got off to a good start in Carrot River on Sunday. They led 2-0 at the first intermission and 3-0 at the second. The visitors went up 4-0 in the third period. The Outback Thunder were able to score twice as Austin Linnen and Njaa both lit the lamp. That made the game 4-2 with 8:35 remaining. The Thunder were not able to get closer and the Westleys added another goal with just less than three minutes remaining.
Logan said there were moments where the Outback Thunder outplayed the Westleys. However, they hit several posts and didn’t have some bounces go their way, the coach said.
“That said we consistently wait too long to play with urgency,” Logan said. “We aren’t a good enough team to play less than 60 minutes at our fullest potential and expect to consistently win.”
Kolton Holmen made 32 saves on 37 shots for Carrot River. The Outback Thunder had 50 shots on net.
