It took a lot longer than they hoped, but the Southwest CMX Impact finally got to celebrate a win on the weekend.
"It was an exciting game and exciting weekend," said Impact GM/Head Coach Wade Lacher. "It was a good way to start the year."
After going 0-17 in their inaugural season, a Mya Brown goal in overtime lifted the Impact to a Saskatchewan Junior Female Hockey League victory over Lumsden on Saturday. There were some new faces joining the lineup right up until puck drop.
"I met some of these girls for the first time on Saturday before our game," Lacher said. "Some of them were at camp, but decided they wanted to play. It's a little early to figure out our identity. We have 9 returning players, 13 new ones, and we're still kind of learning to see what they can do. I was very happy to see what some of these players could do on Saturday and you know they listen very well, put some systems in place on Saturday and they produced very well."
The Impact have seen more interest in their program in the second year of the league. That has helped them build a deeper team this time.
"I think it was a lot that had a lot to do with recruitment interest in the league," Lacher said. "A lot more girls are familiar with the program and the league, and it's perking some interest around the entire province. Our team is not just from the Southwest this year.
"It was a lot of a lot of phone calls. Reaching out to coaches, players throughout the province trying to get names, numbers, contacts and then our fall camp was a lot better this year."
As the SJFHL beings their second season, Lacher sees reason for optimism.
"I see this league really growing," he said. "Taking off even. Look at the interest this year from last year, the girls wanting to play, I just see it growing and continuing to get bigger and an important part of development for hockey."
Jordyn Cooper was the star of their first weekend with two goals and an assist as they split their games with Lumsden.
"She's a very hard worker," Lacher said. "I coached her AA here in Swift Current. She's got a very good release. One of her goals there on Sunday was a shorthanded goal that she read the breakout pass and was able to pick that off and walk in and score. Our power play actually looks a lot better already this year. Jordan was part of that."
The Impact now head on the road for three games this weekend.
"I'm actually looking really forward to this weekend and getting together the whole team," Lacher said. "Staying in a hotel and getting to know each other. I really liked our room on the weekend, the new girls that came in, our vet leaders from last year that were on the team were great for these girls."
The Impact play in Oulook tomorrow, before games in Saskatoon on Saturday and Sunday. They're back home in Gull Lake on October 26th.