CANORA - The Canora Cobras continued their streak of picking up at least a point in every game so far in the young SEHL season with a 9-6 win over the Cote Selects on Dec 7.
Cobras Coach Darren Schwartz said Cote is always a challenge to play against, and this season is no different.
“They picked up several new players who are talented goal scorers, they’re a really good offensive team,” said Schwartz. “They have improved their team since last season, but so has just about every other team in our league.”
The Cobras got off to a slow start in the Dec. 7 game, and trailed 2-1 after the Selects scored with just over three minutes left in the first period. Just when it looked like the Cobras would be trailing heading into the intermission, Scott Mickoski of Regina tied the game with only one second left on the clock.
“That might have been the biggest goal of the game,” said Schwartz. “It gave us some momentum heading into the second period.”
The Cobras led 6-4 after the middle 40 minutes, thanks to a pair of power play goals just over a minute apart.
“We changed some things on the power play, some personnel, and it seemed to work,” said Schwartz. “Special teams are huge! We needed to make it count, and our power play helped turn the game around.”
With all the offensive talent in the Cote lineup, Schwartz was pleased to see that his team did not take a single penalty the entire game.
“I’m trying to get our guys to be disciplined. I know it’s hard, but staying out of the box is huge, it was a big key against Cote.”
The Cobras stretched their lead to 9-4 in the third period, but gave up a pair of late goals.
“I was upset,” said Schwartz. “We played a solid road period for about the first 16 or 17 minutes. But then we got away from our game at the end and they made the score closer than it should have been. Brad Sentes (of Regina) played well in goal for us.”
Schwartz was pleased with his team’s balanced offence against Cote, as the scoring was spread out over the top three lines.
Mickoski and Logan Foster of Kamsack led the way with two goals and an assist each. Carter Dereniwsky and Kody Rock, both from Canora, also had three point games with a goal and two assists each. Derrick Schwartz of Runnymede and Brett Duczek of Grayson each chipped in with a goal and an assist. The other goal scorer was Troy Zulyniak of Yorkton. Tanner Mak of Yorkton had a pair of assists. Single helpers were contributed by Carson Dennis of Melville (formerly of Canora), and Tomas Hauber of Canora.
Schwartz said the Cobras are gradually playing better as a team and catching on to the system, but they just need to play together more. With road games coming up in Preeceville on Dec. 13 and Theodore on Dec. 14, it looks like he is getting his wish.
“Against Cote we were missing a few players, but this weekend we will have a full lineup. That means there will be some tough choices for me as to who has to sit out and who gets to play. But that’s what I want, it’s great when everyone plays well and makes those choices difficult for me.”
After one more road game on Dec. 21 at Swan Valley, the Cobras next home game is after Christmas on Dec. 27 against the Preeceville Pats at the Civic Centre.
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