CARLYLE - For the first time in recent memory, the Carlyle Cougars senior hockey team has decided to enter provincials.
The Cougars are competing in the B division play due to the population of the area.
In addition to players already registered on their Big Six Hockey League roster, the Cougars have bolstered their provincial lineup with the addition of seven out-of-town players.
Kruise Reddick played for five years in the Western Hockey League for the Tri-City Americans. He also played for the University of Alberta, the British Elite Ice Hockey League and briefly in Slovakia. Reddick is from Manor originally and now lives in Edmonton.
Drew Czerwonka, 31, is from Glenavon and was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2010. He played over 200 games with the Kootenay Ice of the WHL. He is presently the leading scorer of the Kipling-Windthorst Oil Kings in the Big Six.
Jesse Gabrielle, 25, a draft pick of the Boston Bruins in 2015, has enjoyed a very successful career playing for Brandon, Regina and Prince George in the WHL. He also played for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League. He is presently a forward for the Wawota Flyers and is one of the Big Six Hockey League’s leading scorers.
Tony Kinistino, Sterling Bear, Ron Cote, and Valdez Bear were also added to the team. These talented players played for years with the Ochapowace Thunder of the Triangle Hockey League. Kinistino was that league’s Most Valuable Player in 2019-20. Ochapowace no longer ices a senior hockey team.
“The Big Six is a competitive league and there are several high-quality teams. The Cougars are presently sporting a 6-5-1 record and I feel that we have been underachieving somewhat. But for the most part, we have been in most of the games and have been competitive,” said Cougars’ player-coach and co-manager Tyler Fleck.
“There are strong teams in the province and our coaches and executive felt that we needed to add a few top end players to our roster to compete at the provincial level. We really like our roster.”
The regular season of the Big Six Hockey League ends on Feb. 5 with playoffs to begin immediately the week after. Eight of the eleven teams make the playoffs with the first round a best-of-three.
In provincials, the Oxbow Huskies and Moosomin Rangers have also entered the B division. Redvers and Carnduff are in either C or D, depending on the number of entrants. Provincials will start in February with first round opponents to be determined shortly.
