Pueblo County co-op hockey group is younger, however enjoyable to look at

The Pueblo County Hornets co-op hockey group is in a transition yr.

The program graduated 10 seniors final yr and has a complete roster full of recent expertise and names. The group remains to be understanding the kinks, however coach Jeff King believes they are going to hit their stride.

The Hornets took on Woodland Park on Thursday, Dec. 18, on the Pueblo Ice Arena and got here away with a 6-1 victory over the Panthers for his or her second win this season.

“I saw another step in growth for us,” King mentioned. “We had a game last week against Lewis-Palmer, and they’re a 5A team. We lost 3-0, but the way we played defense really stuck out.”

King believes that the group discovered one thing from the loss, saying, “the game is going to pay dividends down the road”. He added that defensively within the recreation in opposition to Woodland Park, they shut them down.

King additionally addressed the truth that the group is a very totally different make-up than final yr, with so many new faces making ready to go up in opposition to expertise that they have not performed earlier than.

“The big thing is the speed,” King mentioned. “These high school teams, their size and the physicality is so different for these kids coming in. We have probably six kids that have never played hockey at this level, so it’s obviously going to take them time. They are working hard. They’re closing the gap. We practice on that and they’re becoming stronger hockey players.

The Hornets do have some veteran leadership on the team, with the likes of the team’s leading goal scorer, Tyler Horton.

“I’m actually pleased with Tyler Horton tonight,” King said. “Yes, he scored a hat trick and three assists, however what I used to be most pleased with him is the best way he performed protection tonight.”

King preached concerning the group’s latest surge on the defensive facet of the ice, and added that as a result of the group is working so arduous on that a part of the sport, the offensive facet is lastly opening up, as evidenced by their 6-1 victory over the Panthers.

The aim now for the group is to proceed to develop as they hope to scrap for a possible playoff berth on the finish of the season.

“I hope that we are able to finish the primary half of our season sturdy,” King said. “If we are able to go into the break at 3-5, I’d be pleased with that as a result of I feel that is going to be a very good basis for the second half season.”

The team will play six games in January and five more in February to wrap up the regular season. They currently sit at 2-5 with a game on Monday, Dec. 22.