The Cape Cod Whalers U16 team has enjoyed every moment of this season.

They are 4-1-0-1 in EHF Selects play, 12-5-3 overall and have twice been ranked in the Top 25 of the MyHockeyRankings. 

As head coach Matt Collins pointed out, his team is being rewarded for hard work and playing the game the right way.

“We work hard as a team,” Collins told USPHL.com. “The kids love to practice and compete. We try to keep it simple and at the same time make it hard for other teams to play against us.”

Obviously, all EHF Selects teams don’t have the usual time to bond as a team as would a normal full season junior, high school or prep team. Luckily, this Whalers team has a history together with both the Whalers and other organizations. 

“Most of our guys have played with each other in the past to some degree,” Collins said. “In the fall, we try to focus on player development and competing at the highest level possible. Practice is huge for us. Success in practice translates to success in games and into the prep school season (wherever that happens to be). This group is very tight on and off the ice.

“The Whalers organization is one of the very best midget programs in the country and the kids love coming together to continue that tradition,” Collins added. “It is a very short season but our goal is to get better every week and be playing at our best at the end. Hopefully, that’s where we are.” 

The Whalers can come at you in waves with their depth and that’s evident in their scoring depth thus far this season. Forwards Michael Cataldo, Zach Glass, and Jonathan Surette have all lit the lamp three times and Declan Loughnane has provided offense from the blue line.

“We have been successful by spreading things around,” Collins said. “We have had production from all of our forwards. We ask our defensemen to take care of business in the D zone and then get involved offensively. For the most part, we’ve done that.” 

Between the pipes, Jake Inzirillo and Mason Joseph have been up to the task. Inzirillo is 3-0-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and Joseph is 1-1-0-1 with a 2.20 GAA. 

“We have also had great goaltending by both Mason and Jake,” Collins said. “That goes a long way.”