The Moose Jaw Canucks.It was a first half filled with success for the Moose Jaw Canucks as they look for their first Junior C Hockey League title.

 

The local squad is sitting in first place through 13 games with an 11-2 record.  Their only two losses came against the Lumsden Lumberjax and both came in the month of December.

 

Now with the calendar turned over to 2014 and the stretch run coming up, the Canucks are hoping to see more success coming over their final 11 games.

 

“The first half went decent,” said head coach Jason Sather.  “We’re a very good team unit.  Once all of our guys show up, we play as a team and win as a team for sure.”

 

It has no doubt been a team game for the Canucks so far this season as they lead the league in goals for by a wide margin with 107 — 23 ahead of second place Odessa — and they’re sitting second in goals against.

 

“We don’t get away from what works for us,” said Sather.  “We use our speed and moving the puck well.  We’re playing a little bit more defensive hockey than we have before and I think we’ve got a stronger team than last year.”

 

The Canucks have had plenty of individual success during the first half, but it’s been spread out as well throughout the lineup with many players posting solid numbers.

 

They have four players in the top-seven in scoring, led by Zack Evans with ten goals and 26 points, who sits third.  Mitchell Holick is right behind him with 11 goals and 23 points.  

 

“Taylor Dobrescu is a 21-year-old that played defence last year, but normally plays forward and is playing forward this year,” explained Sather.  “He’s actually in the top-three for scoring on the team this year.”

 

Dobrescu has posted 11 goals and 22 points for the Canucks.

 

As for the goaltenders, the Canucks goalies Ryan Trahan and Brodie Evans sit second and third respectively in goals against average with 2.33 and 2.87.

 

Heading into the second half of the season, there’s still room for improvement in the team as they search down their first league title.

 

“I would like to see a little bit more control, controlling the play, pushing the play up the ice and really positional hockey,” said Sather.

 

The Canucks will host the Southey Marlins on Thursday night at the Bert Hunt Arena.  Puck drops at 7:00pm.