CANORA - For the first time in their relatively short history in the Sask East Hockey League, the Canora Cobras have made it to the north division final in the playoffs, with home ice advantage to boot. Unfortunately, the visiting Swan Valley Axemen defeated the Cobras 6-2 in Game 1 on March 1, and the Cobras could not overcome both the Axemen and the questionable on-ice officiating on the road in Game 2 in a 9-8 overtime loss. This means the Cobras will be fighting for their playoff lives in Game 3 against the Axemen on Friday, March 8 at the Canora Civic Centre.
Prior to the opening faceoff of Game 1, a special moment took place for the Cobras and their fans. SEHL Commissioner Mike Stackhouse made the trip to Canora to present three regular season awards to members of the Cobras on the ice in front of the cheering local fans. In a league-wide vote, Vaughn Wilgosh of Canora was named top defenseman, Kody Rock of Canora received most improved player honours, and Darren Schwartz of the Cobras was fittingly named coach of the year, after the Cobras won 13 out of 14 regular season games and earned home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
“I thought it was great,” said Schwartz. “It shows you’re doing something right. It’s a great honour for the kind of year we had. And we had other players close as well; Rylan Palchewich was near the top for best goalie, and Tomas Hauber was close to winning rooking of the year.”
Commissioner Stackhouse said the multiple awards were fitting recognition for the hard work by the Cobras organization after last season, “when Canora was a middle-of-the road team and they have made great strides since then. It’s even more impressive when you realize that we have a much-improved league this season over last year.”
As has become a familiar theme for the Cobras in recent games, they quickly fell behind in Game 1. After the deficit reached 2-0, Schwartz replaced Rylan Palchewich with Durban Hleboff in goal, and called a timeout after the visitors went up 3-0, but neither of these achieved the desired change. When the deficit reached 4-0, an on-ice skirmish involved a number of players from both teams. “It sparked our team, and we scored two quick goals,” said Schwartz. Goals by Ryley Stefanyshyn of Canora and Logan Foster had the Cobras within two going into the second period. Unfortunately, that was the end of the Canora offensive output on this evening.
“We came back and played better, but they’re a good team,” said Schwartz. “We had momentum but we kind of backed off. We’ve been getting away from who we are in the past few games. The crowd was behind us, which was great to see.”
The next day, the Cobras hit the road to Manitoba for Game 2.
Schwartz said the Cobras started well in the first period, but once again fell behind; this time it was 2-0 before the period was half over. But the Cobras stuck with it, and tied the score by the first intermission.
Then things changed. After only three penalties in total were called in the first period, Schwartz said the referees seemed to call absolutely everything from that point forward. “I don’t care if I get fined for saying this, but the reffing was a joke. One guy kept calling penalty after penalty. The game was on TV there, maybe he was trying to get noticed.”
In the final two periods and overtime, a total of 22 penalties were called.
“We were shorthanded, it seemed like all the time,” said Schwartz. “Our penalty killers were worn out since they were on the ice so much, and the other guys barely played. The whole team was frustrated.”
The Cobras had built a 7-4 lead by early in the third period.
“We had that game won,” said Schwartz. “Our guys played so hard, and Durban played so well in goal. Whenever you see a ref involved in deciding a game result, something’s wrong, but that’s what happened.”
Swan Valley tied the game at 8-8, scoring with only two minutes left in the thirds period, and then potted the winner in overtime.
“Even in overtime, their guy falls and the ref gives us a penalty,” said Schwartz. “That can’t happen in such an important game.”
Logan Foster led the Cobras offense with a hat trick. Scott Mickoski scored once and added three assists. Contributing a goal and an assist each were: Kody Rock of Canora, Jake Heerspink and Troy Zulyniak. The other goal scorer was William Hauber of Canora.
As disappointing as it is to be down 2-0, Schwartz said the Cobras need to shift their focus to Game 3.
“Hopefully our guys get lots of rest this week. Then they need to come out with the right frame of mind on Friday, because it’s do-or-die now. If we come out like we did at the start of Game 2 and play physical, we should be fine.
“Hopefully the crowd will be there for us and we have a full barn for Game 3, because that really gets us going,” concluded Schwartz.
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