Sault College adjusting to new level in men's hockey

A 6-0 start to the season has people around the Sault College men’s hockey team in a good mood these days.

After winning a national title last season at the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) division three level, the school moved up to division two this season and has started well.

It’s been an adjustment early on despite the start.

Head coach Mike Hall spoke of the more physical nature of the division two level and how it made for tougher starts in the two road trips the team has made this season.

“We returned a lot of players from last year,” Hall said. “To return the leadership core that we have that has been to a national championship and knows what it takes to play in a national championship has certainly made the transition easier. We did find that at the division-two level, it’s a lot more physical.

“We’re having a little bit of trouble adjusting in the first game of the (weekend) series, getting off the bus and playing right away,” Hall added. “You can’t get away with some stuff that you can get away with at the division three level. We’re slowly making the adjustments.”

The team will look to make further adjustments later in the season when it hosts the University of West Virginia at the Rankin Arena in mid-February.

The game takes on a little more importance as the Mountaineers play at the DI level in ACHA competition.

With the game being played late in the season, the game has some good timing as the team prepares for a run at a national title at the DII level.

“I don’t think our kids will be able to take any shifts off,” Hall said. “They’ll be pushed. It’s late in the season so if we have an opportunity to go back to nationals it will be great for our kids to be pushed right before going to nationals.”

West Virginia coach Shane Buckley is no stranger to northern Ontario.

The 30-year-old, who is in his first season as head coach at the school after serving as an assistant last season, hails from Iron Bridge.

In a prepared statement announcing the game between the two schools, Buckley spoke of the job Hall and the rest of the Sault College staff have done building the hockey program.

“What coach Hall, Mark Hebert and everyone involved with the program have built in such a short amount of time is remarkable,” Buckley said.

“We know that we’re going to have a tough test that weekend. It’s hard to find a better way to learn and grow as a team than playing a defending national champion in their rink.”