CARROT RIVER — Entering this week on a six-game winning streak, the Carrot River Outback Thunder are certainly making noise this season.
After Tanner Dutcawich scored in a shootout on Saturday to propel his team past the Regina Silver Foxes, 2-1, the Outback Thunder had a 10-5-0-1 record. They sat second in the Prairie Junior Hockey League’s Bob Dybvig Division behind the Saskatoon Quakers and were fourth in the league.
Head coach Darrell Mann said he “couldn’t be happier with their work ethic, how they play, and their desire to win.”
“This winning streak has been very fun,” Dutcawich said. “It just seems like all the guys are on the same page and executing the game plan together. Everyone is enjoying their self and having a blast.”
Carrot River has earned victories against the PJHL’s top teams. In less than a week, the Outback Thunder beat the division-leading Quakers in back-to-back contests and then knocked off the Pilot Butte Storm, who top the Bill Johnston Division.
“It just shows the boys are rising to the occasion,” Mann said. “It’s been a great team effort. That’s what we need to win. … We got to have all 20 guys going every night. They’re seeing that if they are working hard and playing the right way, they have an opportunity to beat anybody in this league.”
In its last full campaign, the squad earned 16 wins after posting six in the previous season. Mann said it has been good to see the team have this run right now, especially for players who been there since their 18-year-old season and have not experienced that success.
Being responsible and strong defensively has helped the Outback Thunder be successful. On its six-game winning streak, the team has allowed only nine goals.
“I really think we’re taking pride in being a good plus-minus player and playing the right way in the D-zone,” Mann said. “They have really bought into what us as coaches have been asking of them. Obviously, it is starting to give them some rewards.”
He noted the Outback Thunder’s success has come with getting a couple players into the lineup. Tisdale’s own Drayton Hvidston recovered from an injury. The half dozen contests the defenceman has played are all part of the winning streak. The blue liner, who has a goal this season, and goaltender Alex Bell were in camp with the La Ronge Ice Wolves of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. As of Sunday, Bell had a league-best 1.61 goal against average. Mann said Bell has stabilized the Outback Thunder’s goaltending.
In addition, the squad has had strong play between the pipes by Carrot River’s own Albert Trew. He has won all four contests he has started. Trew sat fourth in the PJHL with a 1.71 GAA.
“Every night he comes in, he battles and gives the team an opportunity to win. … With Alex Bell, they’ve become one of the best tandems in the league.”
In front of the goalies is a young blue line group. Mann said:
“I really think over the last six weeks that’s been the biggest improvement with our hockey club – our backend. We have some guys who haven’t really played high-end hockey. They’ve really figured it out and improved by leaps and bounds.”
With a young D-core, the veteran Dutcawich has been an important player. He entered this week third on the team in scoring with 11 points, including four goals.
“He’s one of the top D-men in the league,” Mann said. “He brings us some offence from the backend plus he’s really solid defensively. As a 20-year-old, he’s one of the leaders on our hockey team.”
Up front, the squad has scored by committee. The Carrot River team is paced by captain and hometown product David Wiens. As of Sunday, he had team highs of 12 and eight assists. Fellow Carrot River product Trey Hardie was second with 11 points. Christopher Lake’s Jackson Kowblick led the team with nine goals. He was one of nine players with at least four goals. Mann said on the Outback Thunder “every line has the opportunity to score.”
As well as winning, the Outback Thunder are having fun this season.
“I’ve really enjoyed the atmosphere this year,” Wiens said. “Everyone is always excited to come to the rink and it just makes playing on this team that much better.”
