Season ends for RHL Huskies

Lakers and Huskies face off at MCC arena
Lloyd Lybbert photos, C. Davis video

Chris Davis

Pincher Creek's Senior Huskies hosted Lomond's Lakers at Pincher Creek's Memorial Community Centre Arena on Saturday evening for game four of the preliminary round of RHL playoffs, a must-win game for the Huskies.

The Huskies travelled to Lomond the day before for game three in the series. A goal apiece in the first period, no goals in the second period, and two goals apiece in the third saw things tied 3-3. Lakers Captain Riley Honess scored at the 18:49 mark in overtime, assisted by Maverick Blair, 4-3 and that was that.

Also scoring for the Lakers was Josh Wiest with two goals and an assist. David Foord picked up two assists and Marc Krushelnicki also picked up an assist. Darren Andre scored twice for the Huskies, Alex Elliott scored once, and assists went to Matthew Hammel, Mac Jordan, Hayden Shackel, and Joey Gibboney.

"It was probably the best game I've seen in the Ranchland probably in ten years, said coach Shackel of that one. "A 3-3 game, going into overtime, we had a lot more chances than they did in overtime, they capitalized on the last one."

Saturday's game at the MCC began with another terrific rendition of 'O Canada' by local chanteuse Alexandra Morgan, who sounds more ready for the big time every time. That was followed by a ceremonial puck drop by Co-op mascot Cooper, accompanied by Pincher Creek Co-op GM David Crowell.

This was probably the second best attended game of the season, using eyeball math, second only to  the February 8  game at which Taylor Elliott's #7 was retired.  A huge turnout, and very vocal.  The Huskies have enjoyed enviable attendance numbers since their re-inception at the beginning of the 2012/13 season.

Dustin Brosz of the Lakers scored first, assisted by Cody Gejdos and Benji Husband.  Matt Hammel answered that for the Huskies at the 13:30 mark, assisted by Austin Beck. 1-1.  Darin Kay of the Huskies made it 2-1 shortly after that, at the 12:03 mark, assisted by Mason Bond.  Shortly after that Laker Riley Honess tied it 2-2, assisted by Clay Turcato and  David Foord, at the 11:36 mark.  With 8:49 remaining in the period Mason Bond scored unassisted on a powerplay for the Huskies.  3-2.  Then Lakers Captain Joshh Wiest got into the act, scoring with 1:18 remaining to make it 3-3 to the end of the period, an assist going to Cam Hurt.  The last five minutes started to get a bit chippy.

In a virtual repeat of the first period, the Lakers pulled ahead to 4-3 after  Honess scored his second goal of the game at the 13:02 mark, assisted by Foord and Maverick Blair.  A minute later Ty Odland upped the Lakers to a two point lead, with assists going to Chris Petty and  Honess.   5-3 Lakers.

Huskies #21 and 2013/14 RHL MVP Alex Elliott scored unassisted with 4:47 remaining in the period to make it 5-4.  Elliott scored again with 2:32 remaining, this time assisted by Mason Bond and Hayden Shackel. 5-5.  Watch the replay on that one, the lightning fast passing plays that led up to it were inspired.  

Marky Wicks of the Huskies and David Foord of the Lakers got themselves booted on game misconducts after a brief dustup in the declining minutes of the second period.  Otherwise, rough stuff 2 minute penalties were the norm on a frequent basis for both teams.

Tied 5-5 going into the third, the Lakers had an edge, largely attitudinal.  An unassisted goal from Mike Whitequills of the Lakers put them ahead 6-5.  A pretty backhander from Captain Wiest made it 7-5, also unassisted.  Then Whitequills scored another unassisted goal to make it 8-5 with 1:26 remaining in the game, and you could feel the air go out of the tires.

Final score Lakers 8, Huskies 5.  The Lakers move on to face Nanton's Palominos in the RHL finals, season ended for the Huskies.

"We were in it right til the last ten minutes of the hockey game, said Huskies head coach Greg Shackel afterwards.  "They got a couple of lucky goals and we just couldn't come back."  

"They're (the Lakers) a good hockey team, there's no doubt about it. They move the puck well, they shoot the puck well, and they're a lot more experienced than we are."

Looking forward:

"The guys are starting to play together, they play together now."  Shackel was previously coach for many of the younger Huskies when they were Midgets. "If I can get the same bunch back next year, if they'll have me back, then we'll just get better and better, because like I say, they're still young."