Second straight ‘mini world juniors’ title just as exciting as the first, says South Alberta Hockey Academy GM

SAHA trounced the Calgary Buffaloes 6-0 in the final on New Year’s Day, finishing a 6-0 run in the tournament.

MacMillan says this year’s final was less stressful than last year’s.

“With a 6-0 game obviously, I think there was a feeling that the victory was already there. Whereas last year it was more of a, I think we required an empty netter to actually seal it. So little bit different but certainly equally as exciting,” he says.

Zach Zahara was named playoff MVP, after allowing just one goal in the three games and Gavin McKenna was named tournament MVP.

MacMillan had high praise for the MVPs, both of whom are Medicine Hat Tigers prospects.

“Zach is the closest in a teenage boy the closest that you could compare to a professional – how he prepares in the gym, on the ice, off the ice – he’s a leader. Like a lot of these kids, he had his sights on playing junior hockey this year. And when things didn’t work out for him it didn’t faze him. He was right dialled in on where he was with us and focused on every game and just getting better.”

On McKenna, MacMillan says he has the potential to break any play open at any time of the game. He’s offensively skilled but his impact shows up on more than just the scoresheet.

“You will not just see the points and the production, you’re going to see him out on the penalty kill and buying into the defensive side of the game and the relentless pressure of the forecheck as well.”

Both were named to tournament all-star teams, along with leading scorer Kade Duell. McKenna was also named most sportsmanlike player and Brayden Desjardins was selected as the top coach.

In only its third season with prep teams, MacMillan says the program’s quick success is encouraging and they’ll keep developing it.

“We have I think done a great job of surrounding ourselves with great people, staff. And whether it’s the boys’ program, the girls’ program – we’re seeing a bunch of girls signed going on to post-secondary right now as well,” he says. “And the growth, seeing the growth of the academy is great And I’ll give you a little teaser that we will probably in a month or at the end of this month have some expansion news as well.”

SAHA began as the Willie Desjardins South Alberta Hockey Academy in partnership with Prairie Rose Public Schools in 2018. Prep teams were added two years later when the Banff Hockey Academy squads relocated to Dunmore.

by Chris Brown

Second straight ‘mini world juniors’ title just as exciting as the first, says South Alberta Hockey Academy GM

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