For the second week in a row, the Coppell hockey team has benefited from facing a short-handed opponent.
Two weeks ago, it was a nine-man Northwest Texans squad, and last week, it was the Marcus Marauders, all 12 of them, giving the Cowboys a real run for their money.
Marcus White coach Kenny Tyler said he was pretty happy with his team’s effort in spite of the 5-4 loss to Coppell.
"We were real light on the roster," Tyler said. "We were missing some key defensemen and some forwards ... so that was pretty hard when you are that light. But they gave a good effort and played well."
Tyler said he was especially pleased with the performance of one player in particular.
"Jake Consolver had an excellent game," Tyler said. "He had a hat trick against Coppell."
The Marcus hockey program hopes to have three teams next season, and the Marcus White squad would be in the Silver Division.
Consolver is leading the Marcus White team with eight goals through the first four games, but Tyler said he is not necessarily worried about losing him to the Varsity Gold squad next year.
"It just depends," Tyler said. "He likes playing with his buddies, and he’s played with those guys for two years now and really likes those guys ... he’s been playing real well for us, so he is a candidate to move to the Gold team, but we’re not sure if he will just yet."
Tyler said the Marcus team is really performing at a high level at this point.
"They’re playing above their level," Tyler said. "I would say a couple of steps above their level. We are basically a JV team, and when you can keep up with varsity teams on shots, you know the guys are working hard ... we’ve missed a lot of guys who have been on vacation, so it will be good to see when we get most of our guys back in late summer exactly what we have."
The Marcus Red team had a good showing in its game last Thursday, defeating Midlothian 6-1 in a game in which six different players scored for the Marauders.
Brennon Phoenix, Travis Reed, Patrick Price, Dane Nichols, JP Quirion and Connor Shurkey all picked up goals for Marcus.
Five of the team’s six goals came in the third period.
Over at Flower Mound, the Jaguars played Keller White yesterday after the paper had gone to press.
The Jags were 4-0 on the season heading into the game.