Moses Lake Coyotes open hockey schedule on Saturday

MOSES LAKE — The 2016-17 season will be the last time around for some of the Moses Lake under-18 hockey team. The Moses Lake Coyotes open the 2016-17 season on Saturday with two games against the Everett Jr. Silvertips at the Larson Activity Center.

First puck drops at 12:30 p.m. and two play again at 8:15 p.m. There will be one on Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m.

“Everybody that’s returning has been in the program for quite awhile,” coach Ty Howard said. “A lot of the kids are going to age out, so this will be their last year together. We’ll play 29 games over the next three-and-a-half months.

“The practices we’ve had so far, it looks like they’ve picked up where they left off. We’re excited to get going and we’re expecting good things out of this team this year.” The Coyotes return captains defender Carson Testa, left winger Wade Guenther and Kameron Huberdeau. They also return Thomas Parham, Houston Nelson and Jacob Shank and Conner Johnson in goal.

“We’re playing with 13 guys right now,” said Howard, who is also the Moses Lake Hockey Association president. “We have Conner Johnson, who’s been our goalie for the past couple years. He’s the backbone since he decided to switch to goal a few years ago. He’s just been nails.”

They did lose Aiden Johnson, who was recruited to play for the Tri-Cities Outlaws, but for the most part, the Coyotes will make one last go-around with the first group of guys to complete the cycle for the first time Moses Lake Hockey Association history.

“Seeing how talented they’ve gotten over the years is exciting to see,” Howard said.

One of the highlights of the season will be the Winter Classic Jan. 13-15, which features hockey clubs from all over the Pacific Northwest.

For more information about the hockey association, contact Howard at mlha.president@hotmail.com or (206) 450-6677.

Or follow the action on the Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/Moses-Lake-Youth-Hockey-Association-143514482359935/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel