Bucks weekly preview: Head Coach Roshen Jaswal focuses on growth ahead of weekend games

The Cranbrook Bucks look to build on back-to-back home wins when they host the Blackfalds Bulldogs tonight (Oct. 30) at Western Financial Place.

The Bucks defeated the Spruce Grove Saints 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 23 and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 3-2 on Oct. 24 during last weekend’s homestand.

Last weekend’s homestand was extra special, as it was parents’ weekend, with the Bucks’ players’ families in attendance.

“I think they were excited. I think the first game you could tell they were maybe trying to do a little too much to impress their parents, it seemed, but yeah, they were really happy to have them here,” said Roshen Jaswal, Head Coach, Cranbrook Bucks.

“I think Saturday was cool. We brought the parents in to do video and pre-scout with us and kind of got a day in the life of their kids. So I think they really enjoyed that.”

Jaswal said players can put added pressure on themselves when loved ones are watching.

“I mean, even when I was playing, I remember whenever my dad was there, my mom was there, it always seemed like I’d put the pressure on myself and probably not play as good. So you always want to impress the people you love, right?” he added.

Head coach Roshen Jaswal spoke with Pattison Media this week to preview this weekend’s games. Still early in his first season behind the Bucks’ bench, Jaswal said the team’s growth is evident.

“I think we’ve grown a lot, especially in a short period of time here in the last probably month or two, which is awesome. This group is really dialled in. They like to learn,” Jaswal said.

“They ask questions. They’re receptive to feedback. They’re receptive to all the details we’re giving them.

“I’ve been really happy with that, and it’s just our job as coaching staff to make sure they continue to learn and keep working towards our end goal, which is obviously a championship at the end of the season.”

Ahead of tonight’s game, Jaswal describes the Bulldogs’ offensive-zone play as “really strong”.

“They move; they have a lot of movement…Their D are active, so they play as a unit of five a lot, which is, I mean, fun to watch,” he added.

“The fans will have a fun game to watch, obviously, but for us, it’s just trying to limit that and play within our D zone structure to how we know we can play. But yeah, I think offensively, they got some firepower.”

The Bulldogs added two players from the University of Korea. The university team played seven preseason games against Junior A teams in Western Canada in September, including the Cranbrook Bucks.

“So those are two pretty good players. They’ve been doing well for them as well. So yeah, it’ll be interesting,” added Jaswal.

The Bucks travel to Okotoks on Saturday (Oct. 31) to face the Oilers, whom they defeated 4-2 at home on Sept. 25. Jaswal said the Bucks will need to match the Oilers’ hard work and speed.

“That’s their MO, and they’ve been having a lot of success lately playing like that. So I think for us, you just can’t get outworked. That’s the biggest thing against a team like that,” he said.

“Make sure you keep the game in front of you, and I think if we do that, we should have hopefully some success.”

The Oct. 24 win over Salmon Arm drew 1,613 fans to Western Financial Place. Jaswal hopes attendance will keep growing throughout the season as the impact on the team is invaluable.

“I think it’s huge. I mean, anytime you have a good crowd in the building, and you can feel the energy, you can feel them cheering, you can hear them chanting, it only brings your level of play up, it brings your juice,” he added.

“We call it juice in here. It brings your juice up, and yeah, I think it’s amazing. The more fans in the building, I think, the more energy the guys have and the more juice they have in their system.

“So yeah, if we can get to 2,000, that’d be great, and then after that, we’ll get to 2,500 and then three, and then we’ll keep climbing. But yeah, no, I’ve been really enjoying the support of the town, and I think the players are too.

“I just hope that the fans are happy and they’re enjoying the brand of hockey that we’re playing, and yeah, hopefully they can keep coming out and supporting the boys.”

Tonight’s puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at cranbrookbucks.ca/tickets/

Upcoming Schedule:

Friday, Oct. 30: vs. Blackfalds Bulldogs at Western Financial Place, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31: at Okotoks Oilers, 7:05 p.m.