CANORA - “Ladies and gentleman, youuuurrrrrrrrrrr Canora Cobras!”
With that booming introduction by the Voice of the Cobras, Pat Miechkota, the home team took to the ice for the 2023/24 home opener against the visiting Swan Valley Axemen on Nov. 18.
Unfortunately, the Cobras were “chasing the game” as Coach Darren Schwartz put it, almost right from the start after the Axemen opened the scoring just over a minute into the first period.
The visitors also closed the scoring with a late empty net goal in the third period, to wrap up a 7-4 win.
Swan Valley led 2-0 after the first period, in spite of being outshot 18-6.
“We had our chances and lots of shots,” said Scwartz. “But give them credit, they capitalized on our mistakes.”
Captain Riley Stefanyshyn of Canora got the Cobras on the scoreboard with an early goal in the second period, assisted by Vaughn Wilgosh of Canora. After the Axemen stretched the lead back to two with a power play goal, momentum seemed to turn in favour of the Cobras. They tied the score on goals less than three minutes apart by Kody Rock of Canora, assisted by Tanner Kopeck of Canora, and Scott Mickoski, assisted by Rock and Connor Chaulk.
“We started getting some bounces, and we were sticking more to basic hockey and going to the net instead of just shooting from out outside all the time,” said Schwartz. But later in the period came what Scwartz called “the turning point in the game. They got a lucky goal on a shot from almost along the goal line to take the lead, and we could never catch up after that.” The Axeman scored with under two minutes left in the middle period to go up 5-3 heading into the third.
But the home team kept coming, and Tomas Hauber brought the Cobras to within one goal on a shot from just inside the blue line early in the third period. That turned out to be the last Cobras offense for this game. Schwartz pulled the goalie when the Axemen were assessed a late penalty to try and spark a comeback.
“We were pushing, but just couldn’t get a goal. The harder we tried, the more mistakes we made. We had the pressure on when we pulled the goalie, but the puck bounced over one of our sticks and right to their guy, who scored the empty net goal.”
Canora outshot Swan Valley 59-23, but couldn’t overcome their hot goalie. Even though the game ended in a loss, Schwartz said the Cobras players put in a strong effort.
“Pretty much every team has at least one game where they work hard but don’t get any breaks,” said Schwartz. “It’s probably good that we got that one out of the way early in the season.”
Schwartz said the Cobras definitely have room for improvement as the season progresses.
“We’ve got new guys, we don’t get to practice together a lot. But we have to learn to play together.”
The Cobras roster for this season includes: Kody Rock, Ryley Stefanyshyn, Tanner Kopeck, Vaughn Wilgosh, Mathew Wilgosh, Casey Mydonick, Tanner Denesowych, Maximillin Flaherty, Tomas Hauber, William Hauber, Logan Wolkowski, Jacob Gulka, Tyler Ostoforoff, Grady Wolkowski, Durban Hleboff and Rylan Palchewich of Canora; Cole Rathgeber, Troy Zulyniak and Tanner Mak of Yorkton; Cody Dubas of Invermay; Blake Foster of Kamsack; Carson Dennis of Melville; Skyler Hladun of Langenburg; Austin Severson of Norquay, and Logan Foster, Connor Chaulk and Scott Mickoski of Regina.
The next action for the Cobras is on Dec. 2 when the Wapella Blackhawks pay a visit to the Canora Civic Centre.
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