For the first time in a long time, the two top teams from the regular season will meet in the North Saskatchewan River Hockey League final.
St. Walburg, the first overall team, punched their ticket to the championship after sweeping the Maidstone Jets. All three games were close, but the Eagles continued on from their 15-2-1 regular season with a 3-0 mark in the playoffs.
Trevor Bailey led the Eagles in the semifinals series with two goals and five assists. Taylor Thiessen and Shane Williamson had five points each while Trent Campbell and Jordan Fuder had four each.
Bryan Bridges was in net for all three games and surrendered just seven goals giving him a 2.33 goals-against average in the playoffs.
Friday, the Eagles won 6-3, Feb. 20 they won on the road 6-2 and dating back to game one on Feb. 17, the Eagles won 4-2. The only goal scorers in the series for Maidstone were Brett Harrison and Jason Roberts. Both players scored a goal in all three games while Roberts had two goals in game three. Those two players sit among the league leaders in playoff scoring, as Harrison finished with 12 points and Roberts has nine.
The Eagles will now face the Wilkie Outlaws in the league final, as they swept the Turtleford Tigers.
Wednesday, the Outlaws finished the series with a 3-1 win. Friday in Turtleford, the Outlaws prevailed with a 7-4 win. Game one, Feb. 18, was a 7-0 decision for the Outlaws, as Jared Herle was in net for the shutout.
Wilkie was also busy with their provincial series against Macklin, but after winning game one 4-3 they lost Sunday in Wilkie 5-2 to be eliminated.
Edam was also eliminated from senior D provincials after losing to Elrose 9-2 and winning the second game 5-2.
The Eagles beat Wilkie 5-2 and 6-0 in two regular season matchups and the best-of-seven championship series is expected to get started this weekend with game one in St. Walburg.
