It was a spectacular season right from the start for the Ste. Anne Aces U15 hockey team and they finished the year off in style winning the league championship banner over the weekend.
Head Coach Eddy Watt took some time to reflect on what was a special weekend. "We started the season this year coming off a loss in the finals, so everyone was highly motivated to get the job done this year. Ultimately, we went undefeated through the playoffs. We went through the semi-finals and advanced to the finals which we took two games to zero."
After the disappointment of getting so close last year, Watt says it was remarkable to see the group come in with a chip on their shoulder and achieve the goals they had set out for at the start. "Our majors returned just fired up and ready to go. We lost a couple of players in the offseason and some of our high end scorers, they moved on to U18, we lost a couple to the AA program as well. Some teams will have a number of stars that kind of carry the group through and get the job done, but for us, we had to bond together to get the job done. It was amazing to see everyone rise to the occasion and get the job done. They fully bought into what we were trying to do and it was an amazing season."
Perhaps the most rewarding part for Watt and the coaching staff was the fact that every player felt a part of the team's success which he believes is bigger than the game. "It's more than hockey. It's always been more than hockey for us and we expressed that in the room, when we talked to our players about putting in the effort in practice, we had a number of meetings where we went over systems, we talked about it being more than hockey. It's about developing into athletes who can learn new systems, run drills, play through pain or discomfort, when they're sick, when they have life issues going on. As they get older, they're going to face adversities in life and we worked with them to help them through it."
Watt tells the story about a particular player who made incredible strides this year and ended up with a special moment of their own. "Talking about contributions from the entire team, our goal (yesterday) came from a player that never played organized hockey until this year, he got the first goal and it kicked us off. To watch the joy and happiness from all the players that contributed to such an amazing season was pretty great."
If it wasn't for Watt stepping up, there might not have been a U15 Aces team this year, but the coach says it was the team that saved him, not the other way around. "This is a life-altering decision for me," Watt says overcome with emotion. "I've played hockey my entire life, I've been in the dressing room or on the ice with some incredible people and this was an opportunity to give back. To be part of and get involved in my community. Ste. Anne has embraced me with open arms, I've never felt so part of and so engaged in something in my life, really. The gratitude I have for this community, for this hockey team, for the parents, my assistant coaches Pete Normandeau and Pat Legall, as well as the management team Sarah Normandeau, they're all amazing human beings and without their support, we wouldn't be where we are. In all honesty, this has been life altering for me, I needed this team more than I realized and the gratitude I have for all they've accomplished, it's hard to put into words."
Looking into the future, Watt has a plan. "Ultimately, when I came into the community, originally I was going to come in as an assistant coach, kind of help out, dip my toe in the water, meet some people and shake hands, then I got thrust into the position. Making it to the finals last year and not getting the job done, but doing it this year, it reinforced the dedication to the system and the community. The plan is to stay with the majors, the U15 majors, they'll progress to the U18's next year and we'll stay with them as a coaching staff. We'll be with them the next three years and see how many more banners we can hoist in that time."
Watt made sure to get a photo with the coaches holding the banner and says it's because of the people around him that makes it all the more special. "They're so amazing. We talk about team unity, the coaches and manager have stuck by me through thick and thin. All the decisions, we've gone forward together. I should include a big shoutout to Natalie Vermette, she was our safety, she was on the bench and around the team, the four of us... if it wasn't for the support of them, we wouldn't be where we are. It's special to finally achieve what we were going for. A great success."
@steinbach_online Ste. Anne Aces U15 hockey team bring home the banner. Check out the full story at #steinbachonline ♬ original sound SteinbachOnline