The Canora Peewee Cobras defeated Wapella in the semi-final series on March 8 to advance to the Major League finals. The Peewees are the only Canora minor hockey team left in the playoffs.
The final playoff series against Preeceville was to be scheduled this week.
In the first game of the semi-final series against Wapella, Canora travelled to Wapella to take on a team that had not been defeated this season.
On March 6, it was a come-from-behind victory that was topped off with the go-ahead goal with just 20 seconds left in the game, said Kent Hembling, the coach. This game set the stage for a great Game 2 of the best-of-three series.
Playing before a hometown crowd on March 8, the Cobras came out determined to dominate the game, said Hembling. Just two minutes into the first period, Clay Sleeva scored Canora’s first goal.
“Max Mydonick made an amazing pass to set him up,” said the coach. “Clay would add another goal for us before the period came to an end.”
In the second period, the Cobras got another early goal – this time from Grady Wolkowski who shot the puck into the Wapella zone. It bounced off the boards then off the Wapella goalie and into the net.
Just 20 seconds later, Wapella got on the board with its first goal of the game.
“Wapella out worked us in the second period, and if it hadn’t been for our goalie Tyler Palchewich, it could have been a different game,” said Hembling. “Tyler played awesome with lots of fabulous saves. At the end of the second period we had a 4-2 lead.”
Going into the third period, “it was all Cobras,” said Hembling. The Cobras added three more goals for a 7-2 win.
“Clay Sleeva had a great game getting six of our seven goals,” he said.
“Our team has been improving all year and we are hitting our stride right at the best time – the playoffs.
“All the kids never quit on a game. When we get down by a goal or two, the kids always seem to find another gear and come right back. They have that ‘never say die’ attitude. That's something the coaching staff are really proud of with these kids.”
The season has gone very well for the Cobras, losing only four games in the regular season to place the team fourth out of 15 teams, Hembling said. After losing the first game in the first round of playoffs, the Cobras did not lose again – recording four straight victories.
“We will have our toughest challenge in the finals against Preeceville.”
The Preeceville Pats has only one loss this year, but it was the Cobras that beat them.
“That's okay! We just beat a Wappella team that was undefeated in the year, and we just beat them in two straight games!” Hembling stressed.
“All in all, it has been a great year, and one I don't think any of the kids will forget.”
The fan support has been awesome, especially going into the playoffs, he said. “In our rink it's been so loud it gives the kids goosebumps. And when we go on the road, our fans are louder than the other teams’ fans so we are winning in the stands too.”
Hembling said the team hopes that even more fans will be in the stands for the playoff finals.
