The

are two days into their longest trip of the Western Hockey League season, a six-game, 11-day, 4,000-mile journey that will take the team bus and 32 people across Alberta and into Manitoba -- and back.

The Hawks, who have won eight games in a row, left after Saturday's game against Everett and take the league's best record (14-2-0-1) into a stretch of games against Swift Current, Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw and Brandon.

In addition to personal luggage and hockey jerseys, sticks and skates, the team packs such items as a portable skate sharpener, a portable heater and a laundry bin -- and all of it has to fit in the compartment under the team bus.

"We pack very carefully," equipment manager Rob Gagne wrote in an e-mail. "It's like the game Tetris, trying to fit each piece in."

Most of the Hawks players are still in high school. The team has study halls every morning, so even though the players are missing class time, they can't avoid schoolwork.

The Hawks' next home game is Saturday, Nov. 20, against Kamloops at Memorial Coliseum.

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