Estevan Junior Coaler Rollers head coach Lorelei Lachambre believes their two teams had their best showing yet for their home tournament.
The Coaler Rollers annual tournament was held at the Bienfait Memorial Arena on Saturday and Sunday. Four teams were entered in the Levels 1 and 2 division, which is for skaters learning the sport, and three more were in Level 3, which is for those with more experience.
Round-robins were used for each division.
The Levels 1 and 2 team went 3-0 at the tournament, defeating squads from Saskatoon, Rocanville and Brandon.
“The players are super excited,” said Lachambre. “They have improved so much, and they really have shown how much they have a passion for this game. You can just see it. They’re smiling and they’re having fun, and they just love it.”
They opened the tournament with a 197-182 win over the Small Town Smashers from Rocanville. They they defeated the Bridge City Bruisers of Saskatoon 252-184, and the Brandon Frostbite 260-160.
The Level 3 team lost both their games, as they played Rocanville and Regina. They lost 242-171 to the Smashers, and 486-152 against the Regina Demeanors. But Lachambre stressed that they produced more offence against their opponents than at any time in the past.
“Against Regina, who is ranked No. 1 in Canada, we got 156 points, so we’re considering that a win for us, even though we lost,” said Lachambre.
Lachambre was impressed with the communication abilities shown by both of the Coaler Rollers teams.
“They worked together as a team, instead of everybody playing on their own and playing their own spot and trying to do their own thing,” said Lachambre. “This is the first time we’ve really come together, and they’ve stayed together, they communicate together and they’re really using each other as teammates.”
Lachambre said they have practiced really hard for three or four hours a week, and they have great attendance at those sessions. She believes the commitment to practice is now starting to show up in their games.
