2017 has been a year to learn and regroup for the TS&M Bantam AA Bruins. Ending their previous regular season at 8-19-3, they still fought their way to round two of the playoffs, where they fell in game two to the Swift Current Broncos. Now halfway through the 2017-18 season, they sit in 7th in the south division of the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League at 6-10-2.

"Last season for sure wasn't our best season. The team just struggled to gel, but at the end of the season we came and brought it together, and we got that first round playoff series under our belts against Notre Dame. That was hard fought, and our defencemen really stepped up in that," said Head Coach Tom Copeland.

"Heading into this season we're kind of seeing the benefits of that. Our returning guys have been taking everything they've learned from that first round of playoffs and carried that into the season. They've played tough, and they don't make excuses. We've got a lot of first year guys this year, and they're learning from that, so it's paid dividends."

He noted that they are always learning, however, a few changes made to the training this season have specifically shown good results so far.

"We added the mental prep stuff this year, just trying to get our guys to be a bit more mentally tough, because our league is tough, tougher than people give it credit for. Trying to teach kids how to focus, be ready to play and have some mental toughness, that was certainly something to have added in. The other thing we added is the physical training component to our program, which I think is paying off."

Copeland also mentioned that several different players have moved on from the Bantam Bruins to various areas in the province and western Canada to further their careers.

Skating into 2018, he revealed that the game plan will look much the same as it has so far.

"I don't think the expectation has changed at all. Our schedule lightens up, but we're also seeing some of the teams that probably struggled early, in our division in particular, now starting to play better hockey. It doesn't get any easier for us."

"The expectation is to still get through the regular season and try and earn a top 5 spot in our division. If we cant' do that, then we'll certainly be looking to win a playoff round or two. I think that's always been the goal, and that will continue to be the goal," Coach Copeland concluded.