Alexander Back to Battle for the ICE
March 9, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Winnipeg Ice News Release
A new Western Hockey League season is here and with it comes a new-look in goal for the Winnipeg ICE.
The club has three goalies on its roster in Regina and they form an interesting mix.
Overage addition Carl Stankowski, and 2004-born ICE draftee Daniel Hauser are new to the group, while Gage Alexander is back for a second season.
From the outside, it appears Alexander and Stankowski are vying for the net with Hauser getting a chance to be around the WHL on the daily for the first time after impressing with the Edge School U-18 Prep team in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League.
No matter how you slice it, there's playing time to be earned with the ICE trying to replace the sterling work and heavy load handled by the graduated Liam Hughes who's now with the University of Manitoba program.
ALEXANDER AWARE OF OPPORTUNITY
When it comes to the lone goaltending returnee, Alexander comes in off of a developmental season in Winnipeg in 2019-2020.
In his introduction to the WHL, Gage made four starts (1-1-1-0) and had seven total appearances (4.35, .838) while serving as Hughes' understudy and gaining an understanding of life in the highly-competitive WHL.
Now the Okotoks, Alberta product is intent on playing a bigger part but does that mean he's dialed in on making the number one role his or is he taking things day-by-day?
"I don't really think about it a whole bunch," said the upbeat netminder after Monday's workout in Regina. "I just go out every practice and play my game, and work hard and just show the coaches that I can compete every day and we'll see where the season takes me."
That's not to say Gage isn't determined to win the bulk of the starts, he's just applying a mindset that works for him and for the group.
"I have a couple personal goals, but I just want to help my team win every night and I feel like that's a huge part of our team culture and stuff. So, if I can help my team win every night, I'm doing my job."
PATIENCE AND CONFIDENCE
At 6'7" Alexander has the size to be an imposing presence in the crease, and at this stage of his career he's out to combine a more professional approach with his natural gifts.
"(I'm) trying to be more consistent every day, trying to bring the same attitude, and same work-ethic, and the same compete level. For me that's a huge part of my game, and just being more confident in my size, and just being more of a leader this year in the dressing room with the rookies and the younger guys."
Naturally it's a work in progress for the 18-year-old, but he's clear in what he's trying to do.
Gage says building a base of confidence in his tools and then going to his athleticism when needed is the balance he's after.
TIGHT-KNIT TRIO
With camp only a few days old Alexander, Stankowski, and Hauser haven't been together long but the trio is building a good rapport - one based on friendship, mutual respect, and the competitiveness it takes to be the best they can for the ICE.
"Carl's an awesome goalie. He's been around the league, he's won championships. So, it's an awesome guy for me to learn from too. Howie's (Hauser) kind of learning from both of us right now which is awesome," said Gage when asked about his new running mates before taking it big picture. "We've got a good three here and I'm super excited. We all like each other and that definitely helps for our position."
First up for the ICE in the new season, their arch-rivals, the Brandon Wheat Kings Saturday, March 13th (7:30pm CFRW 1290 AM, iHeartRADIO, and WHL Live).
The teams split eight meetings last campaign, but it was the ICE taking three-of-the-last-four between them on their way to edging the Wheaties for second in the division.
"We like playing those guys," said Alexander. "We like our game, and our team is looking faster than ever so we're super excited to play those guys. We played really well in the last half of the year against them, so we're just trying to bring that back this year."
And it looks like the ICE will have some solid options in goal when the puck drops in just a few sleeps!
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