Ice is nearly underfoot again.
For most people, it's an unwelcome sign of winter that creeps in early mornings, frosts the car windshield and freezes what’s left in the backyard garden.
But fresh ice is exactly what the two dozen guys who just joined the Houston Luckies are looking for.
The Luckies kick-off their first two home games this Thanksgiving weekend. The first is a match-up against a new team in the CIHL—the Quesnel Kangaroos.
With a deep talent pool in that hard-working town, Luckies captain Alonzo Slaney said he expects a tight first game. Face off is at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Claude Parish Memorial arena.
In game two, the brand-new Luckies roster will play the Prince Rupert Rampage starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Slaney said he’s excited about the young players who joined the Luckies this year—fast skaters like Daniel Crump and Graham West.
The Luckies also brought in lots of veteran players this year from Burns Lake, where the Braves will not play this year.
Steve Wilejto, who has previously won top scorer in the CIHL, is on the team, as is ex-Burns Lake goaltender Wes Hart. John Morry, who just moved back from Newfoundland, will bring power to the Luckies’ defence.
“We’ve got lots of leadership on the team that we can pass down to the younger guys,” said Slaney.