It might be a new season, but the old system worked just fine.

The Aberdeen Cougars, known for their depth and balance, showed both elements during a season-opening 5-0 girls’ hockey win over Sioux Center Saturday afternoon at the Odde Ice Center.

The Cougars received goals from five different players and outskated the visitors from Iowa from the opening puck drop.

“I told the girls, our shifts were good because they were nice and short and we were skating with a lot of energy,” said Cougars coach Rob Weinmeister. “There’s still some things we can clean up, some crispness and some decision making, but the effort I thought was really good.”

Aberdeen’s selfless play was on display during in the first five minutes of the game when Allison Woehl took a feed from Rachel Siefken in front of the goal and promptly deposited it in the back of the net for a lead the Cougars would never lose.

“It does feel really good,” Woehl said of the opening goal of the season. “It was just the right time to be there. It feels very good to get the first goal.”

Woehl said that she and Siefken were on the same page and the play could not have worked out better.

“It was just perfect timing that I was there,” Woehl said. “We were both looking and talking, so it was a good part on both of our ends.”

That play was a microcosm of things to come as the Cougars routinely worked the puck to open teammates for high percentage shots.

In fact, the players are so unselfish, that Weinmeister thinks the team could attempt a few more shots.

“Sometimes you just have to pull the trigger and go for that rebound,” Weinmeister said, “because that’s a play right there, too.”

To be sure, Weinmeister appreciates his players willingness to make the extra pass and their “team first mentality.”

After leading by just one goal after the opening period, the Cougars took control in the second period with three goals and outshooting the Storm 15-2. Siefken assisted on another goal, this time to Morgan Jones, Kailyn Poppen had a goal, and then fed Olivia Sandvig for another score.

Siefken got in on the scoring act with a goal of her own on an assist from Woehl in the third period.

While Woehl said she enjoys scoring, she also likes to help others score.

“Honestly, assists are kind of better,” Woehl said, “because you just are looking around and you’re in the right spot, communicating.”

The Cougars ended up outshooting Sioux City by a healthy 34-9 margin.

“I think we were definitely winning the races to the puck,” Weinmeister said.

The same two squads are back at it at 10 this morning at the Odde Ice Center.

Weinmeister said it was good to face some competition after weeks of practice, but said his players probably realize that are not quite in prime shape, yet.

While the team was solid in its season-opening contest, Weinmeister said “there’s also things that we can go back to practice and say this is why we need to work on this.”

Sioux Center 0 0 0 – 0

Aberdeen Cougars 1 3 1 0 – 5

First Period: 1, AC, Allison Woehl (Rachel Siefken, Madeline Sandvig), 12:48.

Second Period: 2, AC, Morgan Jones (Siefken), 15:18; 3, AC, Kailyn Poppen (unassisted), 12:11; 4, AC, Olivia Sandvig (Poppen), 6:34.

Third Period: 5, AC, Siefken (Woehl), 9:09.

Shots on Goal: Sioux Center 9; Aberdeen Cougars 34.

Goalies: Sioux Center, Victoria Pendergrass (29 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Chloe Vikander (9 saves).