Cole Hurley is used to being on the road on the weekends.
Especially in the winter.
Since the Badger native has been four or five years old, he’s been travelling for hockey tournament. The often meant being in a new town and a new rink each time.
“(Hockey) has been everything,” said the now 17-year-old.
Now entering the final year of his minor hockey career, Hurley is a member of the Central Impact of the Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Its a bit bittersweet for sure,” Hurley said of being near the end.
Still, there are plenty of games left to play in the season and while its been a rough start (3-12-2) for the impact, he’s seen improvement in his team.
“We started a bit rough and we had new players coming together,” said Hurley.
The Impact failed to win a game at the Monctonian, a high profile tournament held in New Brunswick. They fell 8-2 to the Steele Subaru Major Midgets out of Nova Scotia and followed that up with a 5-0 to the College St-Hilaire Montgnards.
They finished the tournament Fredericton Office Interiors Caps 7-2.
However, the scores don’t tell the entire story about their performance.
The same problem plagued the Impact through their three-game experience at the Monctonian tournament.
“The third period was always trouble and in the first two periods we played good hockey,” said Hurley.
The Impact were outscored 11-0 in the third period.
Hurley sees that improving as the team progresses through the rest of its season on the provincial major midget circuit.
“It is a mindset,” he said. “We have to think no shift off. Not let off.
“We’re going to be more prepared and more ready.”
As the captain, that starts with him and he knows it.
Still, the Monctonian wasn’t without its pluses.
For a new team — the Impact are filling the void left when the Central IcePak folded last season due to player commitment issues — the tournament gave them a chance to gel as a group.
From the bus ride up and back and the nights spent in a hotel, Hurley could feel a difference.
“It really brings (teammates) together,” he said. “It was like a new team on the bus coming back.”
The Impact are back in action this weekend with a pair of games against the Western Kings. Friday night, they welcome the Kings to the Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m.. On Saturday night, the Impact will head to Corner Brook with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Corner Brook Civic Centre.
