For a reason that I have yet to fathom, the Atom age is the sweet spot for hockey in Jasper.
I’ve followed Atom teams in our town for the past six winters. Each time I’m impressed, and this year should be no exception.
Witness last weekend: even with a few key members missing during last Saturday’s league opener in Hinton, this Jasper Atom squad gave their enthusiastic supporters a lot to cheer about.
Jasper got the game’s first goal, barely two and a half minutes into the first period, but in keeping with the generous spirit of our youth, the Bears put it in their own net. One nothing Hinton.
This spirit was sustained through much of the game, for although Jasper held the balance of the play in the Hinton end, they were not to break the hearts of the hometown fans until mid-way through the third period.
At this point the score was 4–3 for Hinton, thanks to strong Hinton goaltending and three deft Jasper backhanders, two from Sebastian Golla and one from Dylan Dekker in the opening 30 minutes of the game.
Still behind by a goal, and with 12 minutes to play in the game, Michael Hayashi moved in from his defensive position and potted his first Atom career goal on a power play, to tie the score. Golla pulled the Bears ahead two minutes later with his third of the game, and luckily his father’s greasy ball cap didn’t make it all the way to the ice, so play continued.
Dekker sealed the deal for the Bears with less than three minutes to play, with his second backhand goal of the game, giving the Bears a 6–4 victory on their first game of the season.
First year netminder, Donovan Fawcett was a real standout for Jasper, followed closely by his tyro colleagues Tanner Carleton on defense and Apollo Hardman on right wing. But what impressed me most during this game was the poise that the Bears showed for three full periods. Despite not holding a lead until mid-way through the third frame, there was never a sense of panic on the bench or on the ice.
The team continued to pass and exhibit some tight play-making, holding the balance of the play even while trailing Hinton.
Again, credit to Hinton’s goaltending. And although there are a handful of franchise players on this Jasper team, there were no exhibits of go-it-alone behaviour that can often take over when teams get behind. Players and coaches alike kept their cool, kept the pedal down and kept playing as a team until the final buzzer.
This group of cool customers hits the ice again this Sunday at 10 a.m. in Hinton.
John Wilmshurst
Special to the 51°µÍø
