When we last spoke with Delisle Chiefs Head Coach and GM Eric Ditto his team was in the midst of a very tough start to the season. The team was snake bitten offensively only scoring 3 times through their first three games, and then an 8-0 loss to the Saskatoon Westleys had things pretty grim in the Delisle dressing room.
Following one-on-one meetings between Ditto and each individual player, as well as a consultation with the captains, the Chiefs lost a one goal decision against the Saskatoon Quakers before they finally managed to get their season on the right path.
They would get revenge against the Westleys 2-1 last Wednesday at home, to get their first win headed into a weekend doubleheader on the road that saw even more success. The Chiefs would shutout the Regina Silver Foxes 3-0 on Saturday to start the weekend off on the right note, and then they won a thriller against the Extreme Hockey Regina Capitals 6-5 to quickly move them only one game under .500 after the tough start.
“Things have definitely turned around. It feels better to get a call after a few wins than losses that’s for sure,” said Ditto eagerly.
He noted that team supporters have noticed the recent streak of improved play, and Ditto will be trying as hard as he can to keep his team on the current trajectory they worked so hard to attain after the rough start. The coach commented on his teams outlook after just barely missing out on their first win against the Quakers.
“After the game we did kind of agree that we played well. They are a top team, but we do know we can beat anybody in this league including the Quakers.”
Ditto saw some things that he definitely liked out of his team in that game, and even though they fell short of their goal of a first win, those good things certainly helped influence the Chiefs’ next game. They played against the Westleys who beat Delisle by 8 goals in their last meeting, giving the Chiefs some extra motivation headed into the home game.
“That 8-0 game, I don’t think the score quite reflected the game,” he said, “To get them shortly after that again, it was the same thing that we knew we could beat them even though they were 6-1 and we hadn’t won yet... It was just a matter of time and it wasn’t the prettiest of wins but it’s one we needed.”
That home win for their first of the season must have sparked the team ahead of their weekend road trip to Regina. The Chiefs came together for an excellent defensive performance to help rookie goalie Noah Martens pick up his first win and shutout of his PJHL career against the Silver Foxes 3-0, and then the offense picked up their game the next night out against the Capitals, collecting the 6-5 OT win.
“The road trip was awesome,” said Ditto, who noted the fact that his team’s weekend trip may have come at the perfect time.
He was complimentary of the teams they faced out of Regina, and is happy with his teams showing that he feels may have put them right back in the position they were at the start of the season; contenders.
“Our defensive core, we feel that it can be top notch in this league,” he said, “I don’t think they got off to the start they wanted, but the defense still played well and some of the other younger guys are doing what we asked so that’s a good thing, and I think the puck will start to go in for some of them too.”
Other top performances during the recent win streak has seen captain Chad Westman climb to the team lead in points, and one specific Chiefs roster addition is doing just what the team expected.
“Some of the younger guys that we brought in we expected they would help in the scoring department,” shared Ditto, “Kyle Heintz is one for sure. We had him pegged to be a top rookie in the league for sure, and things weren’t coming easy for him at the start but he kept at it, and now pucks seem to be going in for him. We expect big things from him.”
With the Chiefs season seemingly turned around, they will welcome the Saskatoon Royals to town tonight with a chance to show their rivals that the poor start was just a fluke.
“They got us early in the year, they beat us in the home opener,” recalled Ditto, “Now looking at the standings it’s still early, but we are chasing them because they are the next team and our goal at this point is we are climbing back into this thing one game at a time.”
Coach is ready for tonight's game to be an important one, as the Delisle Chiefs look to stay and track and climb to a .500 record on the season. Puck drop is set for 8 pm at the Delisle Centennial Arena.
Tue, May 14, 7:00 PM
