TISDALE — In his second season, Trenton Curtis has taken on a larger role to help the Tisdale Trojans.
Last season the Bethune product stepped into the lineup and scored 19 regular season goals for the squad that won the bronze medals at the national midget AAA Telus Cup. This year's season he is contributing in various facets of the game for the Trojans.
“Going to the Telus Cup, it gave me more confidence,” the 17-year-old forward said. “I think my game has gotten stronger from last year and I hope I’m getting better and better each game.”
The Trojans count on Curtis for offensive production. As of Sunday, the 5-foot-11, 160-pounder was third on the team with 27 points in as many games. He had scored seven goals.
“I think the thing that’s been able to help me gets points this year is my linemates – whoever I’m playing with. I’ve been playing with Mackenzie Carson for a while and he is able to put the puck in the net. He also has good hockey sense and is able to find me. We seem to have good chemistry and we have been able to put up some points and try to help out the team as much as we can.”
There is more to Curtis’ game than just the offence.
“He has really picked up his game in the D-zone and takes a lot of important draws,” Tisdale head coach Dennis Kubat said.
The Trojans bench boss also praised Curtis for having a high hockey IQ. That was on display on Dec. 6. With the Trojans having only three defencemen in their lineup due to sickness and injury, Curtis was asked to play on the backend. He said he had never really played D before.
“I was a little nervous as we were playing... Regina, who has lots of skill and are very fast, but I was also excited to play back there and see what it was like from their standpoint,” Curtis said. “I was also partnered with Zac Robins, who was able to help me out a lot.”
Curtis billets with Dean and Kali Cortus. He enjoys Tisdale and gives back through the team’s community activities, such as spending time with elementary school students.
“The thing I enjoy most about the Trojans is coming to the rink everyday with my best friends, who are pretty much family,” he said. “We spend so much time together, we all get really close. Also, the community is amazing. They support us a lot. When they come to a game on a Wednesday night at 8, it shows the team how much the community really cares about us and we try to do everything we can for them.”
The Trojans last week
Tuesday, Dec. 10 in Yorkton
Tisdale 4, Yorkton 3
Tisdale Scorers: Keagon Little, Mackenzie Carson, Kalen Ukrainetz, Cole Tanchuk
Maulers Scorers: Carter Dereniwsky, Connor Hvidston, Massen Ziola
Goalies: Hunter Lolacher, Tisdale, 24 saves on 27 shots; Kael DePape, Yorkton, 30 on 34
Notes: With the help of two powerplay goals, the Trojans grabbed a 3-1 first period lead. Tisdale increased its lead to 4-1, but the Maulers cut the deficit to one, 4-3, by the second intermission. Neither team scored in the third and Tisdale hung on for the win. Tanchuk, Trenton Curtis, and Noah Wills each had two points for the Trojans.
Saturday, Dec. 14 in Wilcox
Notre Dame Hounds 5, Tisdale 1
Tisdale Scorer: Ethan Lang
Hounds Scorers: Brendan Kerr, Kevin Anderson, Trey Funk, Carter Cormier, Josselin Dufey
Goalies: Boston Gelowitz, Tisdale, 33 saves on 38 shots; Jared Picklyk, Notre Dame, 9 on 10
Notes: The game was tied 1-1 after the first period. The Hounds scored once in the second period and three in the third.
Saturday, Dec. 14 in Swift Current
Tisdale 4, Swift Current 2
Tisdale Scorers: Mackenzie Carson (2), Kalen Ukrainetz, Noah Wills
Legionnaires Scorers: Brandon Von Hagen, Cash Arntsen
Goalies: Hunter Lolacher, Tisdale, 26 saves on 28 shots; Jacob Herman, Swift Current, 29 on 32
Notes: The contest was tied 1-1 and 2-2 at the intermissions. Wills scored early in the third period to put Tisdale on top, 3-2. Carson added an empty net goal. “Definitely happy with the outcome of (Sunday’s) game,” Trojans assistant coach Daven Smith said. “We owed Swift Current from when me met them last, which was awhile ago at the showcase. We are neck and neck with them in the standings right now, so this game was huge to give us a bit of ground on them.”
Trojans Tracks
Colby Vrani (2018-19) has a goal and five points in 30 games for his hometown Yorkton Terriers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Vrani scored his first SJHL goal on Saturday night in a 5-1 victory over Notre Dame.
This Week
The Tisdale Trojans (13-12-0-1) wrap up the 2019 portion of their schedule by hosting the Prince Albert Mintos on Friday. The team does not play again until Jan. 5 when it plays the Saskatoon Contacts on the road.
