The Grizzlys head into the Christmas break with a 14-19-2 record, with the team sitting sixth in the AJHL South.
"At the start of the year, if you said to us, you'd be there at that time of the year, we'd probably take it. I'm happy with the way guys are playing," said head coach Dana Lattery.
"Excited to come back in the New Year, we need a break, we kind of limped through December with some key injuries."
Olds next plays on New Year's Day, visiting the Brooks Bandits. The Grizzlys play their first home game of 2016 against the same Bandits on Jan. 2.
At 35 games, the Grizzlys have already played as much as a midget team would in an entire season. That is another adjustment Lattery's team of youngsters has had to make.
"It's a long, grueling season and we taper our everyday lifestyle based around that, knowing we have so many new kids that haven't experienced the full junior season," he said.
"We saw it tonight and last night Ö the guys want to go home, want to get a break. That's really evident with a young hockey team. Fair enough."
One of the highlights for the coach has been the play of hometown forward Chase Olsen. The rookie is third in AJHL scoring with 20 goals and 27 assists. The leader, Whitecourt Wolverines' Erik Pedersen, is only four points ahead of him, having played three extra games.
As the Jan. 10 CJHL trade deadline approaches, Lattery said he's not looking to shuffle his deck. They do need to trim the roster to 23 players, though.
"We're at 24, we need to be at 23 so maybe there's a move left. I think our thing is developing the group of kids that we've got in there and that's our commitment to them from the start of the year."
"At the start of the year, if you said to us, you'd be there at that time of the year, we'd probably take it. I'm happy with the way guys are playing." DANA LATTERY
