BENNY WALCHUK:
Emery, after that tight overtime win last week in Nipawin, you followed it up with a big 7–2 victory on Halloween night against the Battlefords North Stars. Nice offensive turnaround for your group — what clicked on Friday?
EMERY OLAUSON:
We did have a lot of turnover this off-season and trying to find line combinations that work and how to deploy the troops has been a challenge for myself, Scotty, and PL. But we’re starting to figure that out, and guys are really buying into the system. I also think that the 11–0 loss to Flin Flon earlier in the year was a bit of a wake-up call — our compete level has definitely risen since then.
BENNY WALCHUK:
A big night for Jye Zawatsky with two goals, and of course 17-year-old Cash Lanigan, the youngest player on the roster, had a hat trick — his first in the SJHL. Nice to see him get rewarded offensively too.
EMERY OLAUSON:
Yeah, he’s one of those kids who just works. In his post-game speech he said he didn’t see that coming, but the coaching staff did. It’s written all over his advanced stats — he leads our forwards in hits, shots, and Corsi. He’s productive, he’s hard-nosed, and coming off that Regina Pat Canadians championship team, he knows how to win. We’ve always known there’s offensive upside there, so it’s awesome to see a 17-year-old get rewarded like that.
BENNY WALCHUK:
You’ve got four games in five nights to start November. How do you approach that kind of stretch from a preparation standpoint?
EMERY OLAUSON:
We’ve actually been looking forward to it. We’re healthy right now — the only exception is Tommy Ries, who’s away at the Canada West tryouts. But this stretch lets us cycle guys in, manage rest, and really come together as a team. Last year our early November road swing was a turning point for us. It’s a challenge — Flin Flon and La Ronge are tough buildings to get points in — but trips like this help forge a team’s identity.
BENNY WALCHUK:
You mentioned Tommy Ries heading to the Western Canada All-Star Challenge this week — a great accomplishment for him.
EMERY OLAUSON:
Yeah, for sure. He’s very deserving. He was there last year and gets another crack at it. We think there aren’t many better defencemen in the league, especially among his age group. He’s got some offence in his game, but he’s also probably leading the league in blocked shots. He’s a gritty defender and a team-first guy — definitely one of the best.
BENNY WALCHUK:
Emery, appreciate your time — best of luck on the road trip.
EMERY OLAUSON:
Thanks, Benny.
Comments