CANORA - The U15 Highway 9 Predators, with a roster made up of players from Canora, Norquay, Preeceville, Sturgis, Kamsack and Buchanan, went right to the limit before winning their opening round provincial series against the Esterhazy Flyers in Esterhazy on Feb. 15.
After the two teams battled to a 2-2 tie in Canora on Feb. 10, Game 2 back in Esterhazy was just as tight, according to Preds Coach Terry Demchuk.
“We led 2-0 and they got one back in the first and then one in the second,” said Demchuk. “We scored on the power play in the third and they answered a few minutes later, ending regulation time in a 3-3 tie.”
The ten-minute mini game that followed decided nothing. The two teams then went to sudden death overtime, which lasted three minutes and three seconds until the Preds scored the series-winning goal.
“The overtime winner was scored by Zarin Godhe of Buchanan on a beautiful lead breakaway pass from Kasen Heshka of Canora,” said Demchuk.
Other goal scorers for the Preds were Shiloh Leson and Emmett Demchuk of Canora, and Gavin Erickson of Preeceville. Heshka had a pair of assists, with single helpers coming from Godhe and Leson.
Coach Demchuk said Emmett Lukey of Norquay also made a big contribution to the series win with his “stellar goaltending.”
As the scores suggest, Demchuk said it was a tight series throughout.
“Any errors were crucial during play. Esterhazy had a very good power play. They score one goal in the first game and two in the second game on the power play.
“Throughout the series I felt with our goaltender and zone play, we mostly out-chanced them as we never trailed at any time during the series, but a couple of lapses here and there cost us. Their netminder was unbelievable and kept them in the game when it seemed we had a chance to run and their team responded with solid play. As I mentioned, their goaltending was unbelievable but as the score would indicate I believe ours was better, as Emmett bailed us out many times.”
Demchuk said the Preds battled an illness going through their dressing room, but “There were no excuses, they just had a warrior mentality to play for their teammates.
“When the overtime goal was scored, the elation was real. Most of our players didn’t have much experience in provincial playoffs, many of whom were in it for the first time.”
The Preds were scheduled to open their second round series of provincials against the Carlyle Cougars in Canora on Feb. 22. Game 2 is scheduled for Carlyle on March 2.
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