Battlefords Sharks look to put tough 2015-16 season behind them
After losing their leading scorer, team MVP and captain, the Battlefords Sharks seemed to dig themselves into a hole that took the entire season to climb out of.
When the team won their first two games, it seemed the loss of Jetta Derenoski wasn’t going to be a factor. But after a 16-game losing streak and 3-23-2 final record, it was evident 2015-16 wouldn’t be their year. Head coach Ashley Rafuse said the poor season wasn’t for lack of effort.
“We could have crumbled and died I guess you could say, but the girls stuck together, they kept working, they kept pushing,” Rafuse said. “But we had to be honest with each other; we’re not as deep as the other teams in the league.”
Rafuse believed because the team has struggled throughout the years, it’s had a damaging effect on their ability to secure top recruits. Players elect instead to play for teams who regularly contend.