Time for younger McAvoy to step up for Huskies

By Darren Zary
of The StarPhoenix

Alekcei McAvoy is getting an opportunity. He’s already gotten his feet wet. He’s tested the waters, here and there, through nearly two seasons with the University of Saskatchewan men’s hockey squad. Now his coach, Dave Adolph, wishes he would jump in headfirst, going full-bore. It’s time. Adolph has seen flashes. He’s seenglimpses. He’d like to see more from the youngest McAvoy, and other young pups, as the Huskies wrap up the regular season tonight and Saturday, with a homeand-home series against the University of Regina Cougars.

With recent injuries to Garett Soparlo and Matt Girling, the hockey Dogs are lacking bodies up front.

“Opportunity would be the key word for Alekcei,” Adolph said this week. “He’s had plenty of opportunities. Some given nights, he’s taken advantage of those.

“No question, Soparlo’s out, Matt Girling’s out. Bruce Harrison leaves the team. There’s lots of little nicks and bangs all the way through the last four or five weeks where we needed nine forwards and we haven’t had nine forwards to put in there.

“Alekcei’s had the opportunity and it’s still there for him for the taking.”

Ditto for Evan Folden and Shawn Langen.

All three are Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League products.

“We get the knock all the time about SJHL players,” argued Adolph. “(U of R coach) Blaine Sautner and all these guys talk about our team being a Western Hockey League team, but this is a perfect opportunity for the Soparlos, the Foldens, the Langens, the Alekcei McAvoys to grab on to something here.

“Thus far, they haven’t.”

Unlike his older brother and teammate Keegan, Alekcei McAvoy has been seen as tentative and cautious.

Adolph would like to see more of a gung-ho attitude than your typical academic puck-handling: the analytical, assessing-the-situationbefore-you-delve-in approach.

“In given situations, Alekcei does really well,” continued Adolph. “Soparlo does really well. Geez, Langen and Folden and Mosewich, they really competed two weeks ago in Manitoba on Saturday night when we really needed a win, but it’s got to be an everyday thing.

“Huskie hockey is about battling every day; it’s not part-time.”
Proficient shooter

In limited action, Alekcei McAvoy has six goals and three assists for nine points in 26 games during the Canada West regular season.

“Things have gone all right,” he says. “When my number does get called, I just try and take advantage of the opportunity as best possible and try and contribute the best I know how, to go out there and work hard.”

Overall, he actually leads the team with 34.8 per cent shooting accuracy with eight goals on 23 shots in 34 games.

Big brother Keegan, 25, has been snake-bit this season with a 8.5 per cent shooting proficiency — four goals in 47 shots through 32 games overall.

Alekcei, 22, knows better than to rub it in.

“I leave that up to the rest of the guys on the team,” he says with a smile. “They kind of fill that role for me.”

The older McAvoy has just two goals, along with 19 assists, through 26 games in the Canada West regular season. Overall, he has four goals and 25 assists for 29 points in 34 games.

“I’m in the worst slump in my life right now,” Keegan admits.

He’s gripping his stick so hard, paw prints are showing.

“He’s had plenty of chances — nine, 10 breakaways in the last four weeks,” noted Adolph. “I don’t think a guy like that should worry as long as you’re getting plenty of opportunities.”

There is no rivalry between the brothers, Keegan says.

“I hope the best for him and he hopes the best for me,” he said. “I hadn’t played hockey with him in 15 or 16 years until he came here. It’s kind of cool being able to play with him again. Now he’s playing a more prominent role with the team and he’s playing well.

“Now, it’s a good opportunity for guys like him to get into the lineup and play lots, so they’re taking advantage of it. Good for them.

“We need guys like that down the stretch.”

Alekcei McAvoy says he likes his team’s chances in the upcoming playoffs. He watched from the sidelines a year ago when the Huskies came within 23 seconds of a national championship.

“We’re keeping positive,” he said, “and I’m sure when playoffs come around, we’ll be fine.

“This year we’ve got to make sure we play a solid defensive game. We have to focus a little bit more on making sure we have responsibility in our own end and just go from there.”

Adolph says the McAvoy brothers are team-oriented and “tremendously loyal to their group.”

“Keegan’s a little more assertive; Alekcei is more wait-andsee. They’ve both been a pleasure to coach, but I just have different expectations than they do sometimes.”
The time has come for Alekcei to step up.

“Some of these guys wait for their chance and then when they get it, they don’t jump in with both feet; they’re a little tentative,” Adolph said

“They have to go for it. They have to go for it now.”

Huskies vs. Cougars tonight in Regina Saturday, 7 p.m., at Rutherford Rink