Braves battle to bitter end

Times Editor

 

A little bit of puck-luck would have helped the Wheatland Braves in their first-round series versus the Innisfail Flyers.

After falling 8-6 in Game 1 on home ice in Hussar on Feb. 22, the local double-A peewee team couldn’t catch a break in Game 2, falling 4-3 on Feb. 24, bowing out of the SCAHL playoffs.

Despite playing a solid team game, especially in the second outing, the Braves fought tooth and nail with the Flyers, making head coach Keith Klemmensen proud of his troops.

“I’ll tell you what, they played a heck of a game,” said the coach of Game 2. “At the end of the day, I wasn’t disappointed in our effort in that last game at all. I indicated earlier in the year we left a lot of goals in the ice after Christmas here, and the same thing happened (in Game 2). We probably had four or five goal-posts and that was the difference.”

The Flyers stormed out of the gates in Game 1, earning a 5-1 lead before the Braves battled back and made it a one-goal game again at 6-5 and 7-6, before the eventual loss.

According to Klemmensen, the difference in the series was quite evident.

“I think in the first game, Innisfail elevated their level of play,” he said. “Innisfail got better as the season went on – I have to give them credit. We were too flat coming out of the first game and it was too much to overcome.

“In the second game in Innisfail, we matched them – we were ahead 3-2 with seven minutes left and they got a power play and got a goal – that’s what happens. That’s hockey.

“I had some kids play the best hockey of their careers and at the end of the day – when they play their best game, I’ve got to be very happy with them.”

Despite the SCAHL season being over, the Braves have earned a berth in the Provincial Championship tournament later next month. 

The Braves will use the time off to heal injuries, play in a couple of exhibition games and put everything on the line in the tournament.

According to Klemmensen, regardless of how things play out in provincials, he is proud of his team.

“There are 10 first-year guys on that team – at the end of the day, nobody in the league comes close to (that youth),” he said. “Against the top teams in the league, we were very good – it was a very successful season.”

Chiefs earn bye

After their second-place finish in the North Division, the Wheatland Chiefs have earned a first-round bye in the SCAHL midget playoffs.

The local double-A midget team, who closed out the season with a pair of games this past weekend, will have to wait for their first playoff opponent while the third seed battles the sixth seed and the fourth and fifth seeds tangle in the opening round.

Warriors host Lightning

After earning a first-round bye, the Wheatland Warriors open the 2012 SCAHL playoffs against the Airdrie Lightning.

The local double-A bantam team hosts Airdrie March 1 (6:15 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre, before going to Airdrie on March 3 (4:45 p.m.) for the second contest. Game 3, if necessary, will take place at the Strathmore Family Centre on March 4 (1:30 p.m.).