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UNBEATEN 鈥� Whitehorse native David Stephens has helped the Mount Royal Cougars start the season with a 4-0 record. Photo courtesy ADRIAN SHELLARD
David Stephens off to hot start with MRU鈥圕ougars
Whitehorse native David Stephens is off to a sizzling start with the Mount Royal Cougars.
Whitehorse native David Stephens is off to a sizzling start with the Mount Royal Cougars.
After scoring a goal and adding an assist in his team鈥檚 opening weekend against Lethbridge, the 21-year-old centre played a major role on the game-winner Friday versus the Calgary Dinos.
A puck bounced off him on the power play to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead, which they would not relinquish in a 3-1 victory.
With 3:33 left in the frame, defenceman Scott McKay put a shot on net that hit Stephens who was cruising in front.
The puck changed directions and ended up in the back of the net.
The raucous crowd erupted when the red light went on and Mount Royal had the lead 2-1 at the intermission.
鈥淚t hit off me, but I didn鈥檛 get credit for it,鈥濃�圫tephens said. 鈥淭hat would have been my second goal of the year.鈥�
While the goal was eventually credited to McKay, Stephens did finish the game with a plus-three rating.
A 2-1 win Saturday improved the Cougars鈥� early-season record to 4-0.
Stephens joined the Cougars after spending last season with the Weeks Crushers in Pictou County, N.S.
He had a breakout season in the Maritime Hockey League, scoring 13 goals and 32 assists in 41 regular season games, before adding four goals and six helpers in 11 playoff games.
Prior to that, Stephens spent time in the WHL and QMJHL playing major junior hockey.
He is studying sports business at Mount Royal.
Stephens said he has worked hard to earn the trust of his coach and has started the year playing second-line centre.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a change from the league I was in last year,鈥濃�圫tephens said today.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a higher pace and the guys are way bigger and stronger.鈥�
The young centre said his teammates have worked hard to be in this position early.
鈥淓very day, our coach pushes us in practice. He really takes a lot of pride in the program and he鈥檚 got us very structured in what we do.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great group of guys and we all believe in each other,鈥濃�坅dded Stephens. 鈥淚f we keep it up, I feel like we could do something in the playoffs. My brother鈥檚 team is hosting nationals, so that鈥檇 be pretty cool.鈥�
Stephens鈥� older brother Ted is a senior playing for the St. F.X. X-Men, hosts of the CIS national championship this season.
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