for his first-place Wild.
“Our team this year is very
fast and extremely skilled,”
Joss said. “When we all work
together with 100 percent
effort we can easily win this
league. Obviously winning
the league is just the start, as
we are hoping to go further
than just regionals, with
the Telus Cup as something
to work for as well.”
In working towards that
goal of a Telus Cup appearance
in Canada’s national midget
championship, Joss and
his Wild teammates have
their work cut out for them.
Currently riding solo in first
place with a record of 16-2-1,
the Wild boast the best goals-
for to goals-against ratio in
Manitoba AAA, as they have
only given up 36 goals, while
already scoring a whopping
98 against their opponents.
Digging back down memory
lane, Joss clearly remembers
the feeling of immeasurable
joy he experienced when
his team beat out a tough
Brandon squad in the
provincials two seasons
back, sending the Bantam I
Monarchs to the Westerns.
He’s hoping to replicate
that feeling this season.
For Joss, it used to be a
reliance on “good luck” helping
him out on the ice in his
younger years. Superstitions
such as sleeping with his
stick on game days were
common practice. But over
the past couple seasons,
the now 16-year-old has
made it clear that he is
willing to put in whatever
work necessary to help him
reach his goals. And most of
that work comes from time
spent training and working
out, apart from his team.
“Coming from Peewee,
training really wasn’t an
important thing because you
weren’t hitting,” he said. “But
as you get to that Bantam
age you have to put on some
weight to be stronger with
the bigger boys. Luckily
my parents found me that
CrossFit program and got
me eating lots and taking the
right supplements, which are
all contributing with that.”
Whether he’s on the ice
practicing with teammates,
putting in time with his
skating coach, in the gym
with his trainer, or on the
court with his Manitoba
Minor Ball Hockey team, his
passion and determination
will be quite evident, and
further provide Mitch Joss
with countless opportunities
in the world of hockey. ❍
DECEMBER 2017 | GAME O N | 1 2 1