Chiefs win SCAHL championship!

Posted on: Staff Writer

Mario Prusina
Times Editor
 
The Wheatland Chiefs capped off a dream season by stomping over the Foothills Bisons in the SCAHL Championship series. 
After winning the regular season banner, the Chiefs lost just two games in the playoffs, before besting the Bisons three games to one in the league final.
The Chiefs won both road games in Vulcan on March 30-31 to win the title, out-scoring the Bisons 7-2 and 4-3 respectively in the two games.
“It feels awesome, it’s good to finally get it over with,” said captain Justin Fraser. “We had the team to do it (and) we deserved it. We played hard right to the end.”
Despite losing home-ice advantage after splitting their first two games, the Chiefs went on the road and proved why they were the league’s best team.
The Chiefs top line of Fraser, Rylan Muenchrath and Alex Bechtold lit up the Bisons for 11 points in Game 3 en route to the win. In Game 4, after falling behind 2-0 going into the third period, the Chiefs stormed back for three unanswered goals before each team exchanged late tallies.
“We didn’t want to come back here for Game 5,” smiled head coach Devon Olson. “It was a little eerie at the beginning (of Game 4). We weren’t hitting them in the first two periods and we got back (on our game). Once we got the first goal – it seems like our team takes off after they get one – and that’s what happened. We got that first one and our guys just exploded.”
The Chiefs finished the regular season with an impressive 21-7-2 record, before getting a first-round bye in the playoffs. After losing their first game of the post season, the Chiefs didn’t lose until Game 2 of the final series.
According to Olson, winning the championship was even a little sweeter after being the league’s top team during the regular season.
“You never want to be the top guys that lose in the playoffs,” joked Olson. “If you’re the bottom guys that lose, it doesn’t matter. But when you’re the team to beat, you want to win it all. You don’t want to get beaten by anybody.
“It was a good year – we had a good group of guys and a good group of parents.”