Pee Wee team battles for banner

Amy Gregson – Times Reporter

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The Strathmore Storm pee wee tier 4 battled hard in the final game of the year for the banner, but came up short to Nanton.

In the third game of the final series; Nanton lead by two goals into the third period and eventually won the game 6-2 for the division banner.

“For the boys and girl to not win it they’ll be pretty sad because this is what they were trying to accomplish,” said Kelly Wheeler, head coach.

Wheeler said Nanton had some really strong players, and the Storm lost their nerve and started worrying when Nanton pulled ahead, and didn’t focus on winning.

“It was all nerves,” said Wheeler.

Wheeler said the team should have won both of the first two games in the series. The team lost in a shootout in game one at home in Strathmore, and then won the second game in Nanton.

“We work as a team every game and we have to beat the other team’s stars and today we just didn’t, but usually we do,” said Wheeler.

The final game was similar to a situation early in the regular season, when the Storm were down two goals to Nanton and ended up coming back and beating them.

Wheeler spoke about this during the second intermission to try and get the team going, but said Nanton’s star players just came out harder.

Wheeler said the year has been fantastic, even though the team lost two of their first five games to a team that ended up finishing 11th.

“We went from losing to the 11th place team [earlier in the year] to playing the last game of the year,” said Wheeler. “We were there the whole way, we just came up two periods short.”

Wheeler said it was a great group of players this year and that the team didn’t have superstars, but a team of great hockey players.

“To be playing meaningful hockey on March 28 is everything,” said Wheeler.