Westlock’s Midget Warriors ended their season sporting silver medals after completing their Tier 4 1660 Hockey League playoff run March 13 at the Rotary Spirit Centre.
The Warriors pushed deep into playoffs, in the end falling to the CNN Spurs after two games in a best-of-three championship final.
Coach Rick Dutchak called the season a success, saying there was little else the boys could have done.
“They came out to play,” Dutchak said.
“They just came up against a good team and did their best to keep up.
“We just fell short at the end of the day, but it wasn’t because of lack of effort.”
Westlock fought hard against CNN all year, losing to the squad early in the season, but posting two wins in the New Year, including a barn-burning seven-goal Jan. 30 comeback.
In the end it was a hot CNN goalie that stymied the Warriors.
“We just couldn’t keep the puck out of our own net. The chances were there, we just ran into some good goaltending,” Dutchak said.
“They’re good defensively also. When you get a chance, they generally don’t give you more than one.”
CNN opened up scoring late in the first period, which was answered by a goal from Adam Hardinge.
The Warriors slipped in the second as CNN ran out to a 7-4 lead.
But Westlock fought back to within one goal in the third, but CNN put the game out of reach at two-minute mark and closed the game 8-6.
“They had a feeling that it could be their last league game,” said the coach.
“They wanted to put it all on the line and make sure that even if they didn’t make it that they did their best.”
With many Warriors graduating from minor hockey at the end of this season, Dutchak wished the boys luck and called the season a learning experience for everyone, players and coaches.
“I give the boys credit for playing with the full bench. It’s never easy, but towards the end of the second half of the season, they embraced it and did very well,” Dutchak said.
“It was a unique year and I’m just glad to have been a part of it. They’re a good group of guys and I wish them the best of luck.”
