The Yellow Grass Wheat Kings concluded their inaugural season in the Big Six Hockey League after dropping the championship series to the Wawota Flyers.
Wawota, who were third overall in the Big Six league after the regular season, claimed wins in the first four games of the championship playoffs. The Wheat Kings were ranked fifth overall after the regular season.
Top Wheat King scorers during the Big Six playoffs included Brendon Vertefeuille, Mike Onstad, Cory Koski, Troy Miller and Matt Dreis. Vertefeuille had eight goals and 11 assists, Onstad had 10 goals and five assists, Koski had seven goals and six assists, Miller had six goals and six assists, and Dreis had four goals and eight assists.
In game one of the championship final, held March 11 in Wawota, the Flyers won 5-4 over the Wheat Kings. Both teams opened the game by scoring two goals each in the second period. Wheat King goals were scored by Vertefeuille and Miller.
The Flyers had a strong second period by scoring three goals to claim an early lead. The lone goal for the Wheat Kings in the second period was scored by Koski. Despite another goal scored by Jackson Schneider in the third period that brought the Wheat Kings closer to contention, Yellow Grass was unable to tie up the game.
In game two of the championship final, held March 13 in Yellow Grass, the Flyers won another close 6-5 victory. The Flyers had a strong start to the game, scoring five of their six goals in the first period.
Brock Appleyard scored the first goal for the Wheat Kings in the first period. In the second period, Vertefeuille and Onstad both scored for the Wheat Kings, and the Flyers scored their sixth goal.
In the third period, Appleyard added two more goals to capture a hat trick.
Game three of the championship final was held in Wawota on March 17. The Flyers had a strong 7-2 victory over the Wheat Kings. In the first period, two goals were scored by the Flyers, and Kyle Mryglod scored for the Wheat Kings. The Flyers scored a goal in the second period.
Wawota had a strong third period, scoring four of their seven goals to ensure their victory. Dreis scored the second goal for the Wheat Kings in the third period.
Game four of the championship final was held at Crescent Point Place in Weyburn on March 19, after there were some plant issues at the Yellow Grass hockey rink.
The Flyers won 4-1 over the Wheat Kings to claim the championship title.
The Flyers scored one goal in the first period, and then another goal in the second period. The lone goal for the Wheat Kings was scored by Onstad in the second period.
The Flyers scored two more times in the third period to finish the series.
This was the second year in a row that the Wawota Flyers won the Big Six Hockey league championship title.
