Braves win SCAHL Championship!

Times Editor      

 

Facing a team with only one loss the entire season, the Wheatland Braves were expecting a long, hard-fought, best-of-five SCAHL Championship series.

Turns out, they didn’t need the maximum games, rather the opposite.

The local double-A peewee team swept the Okotoks Oilers three games to none, capping off a fantastic season in the SCAHL.

“We didn’t expect in any way, shape or form to get out of this three games in a row,” said Braves head coach Keith Klemmensen. “The defining moment was last Monday’s practice. Doozer (assistant coach Jonathan Wheatley) took the boys in and brought some accountability to the effort level. I’ll tell you what, it was really evident the first game in Okotoks. 

“We never dreamt of getting (a split in Okotoks for Games 1 &2) … we didn’t dare think of that. To get a split is great, but to get two in a row was even better.

“Going home, we really wanted to finish it because the last thing you want to do is give a good team a leg up.”

After going 28-3-1 during the regular season, the Braves swept the Red Deer TPS and the Bow Valley Timberwolves in the playoffs, before the highly-anticipated matchup with the Oilers.

The Oilers, who completed the regular season with a 29-1-2 mark, also swept their first two rounds of the playoffs. The final pitted the highest scoring team in the SCAHL versus the Braves, the league’s best defensive squad.

“I think we had the best goaltending in the league,” said Klemmensen flat-out. “I also think our defence core was the most coachable, learning bunch of buggers we’ve ever had. I’ll tell you, when you’re solid back in your end, it (makes all the difference).

“And of course we have some talented forwards too … the boys never got into a competition of who has more points or anything like that. It was just a team-first (mentality).”

The Braves opened the championship series in Okotoks with a 6-3 win in Game 1 on March 14.  Ryan Ries led the way with two goals and two assists, while Malik Kaddoura chipped in with a goal and an assist.

Joel Krahenbil added a goal and an assist, while Tyler Skehar and Majid Kaddoura each chipped in with a goal. Cole Reinhardt added a pair of helpers.

Wheatland then entered Game 2 on a roll and claimed a 4-0 win in Okotoks on March 16. Kale Clouston led the attack with two goals, while Malik Kaddoura and Cole Reinhardt also tallied for the Braves. Tyler Strath added a pair of assists, while Ty Tarvyd made 34 saves for the shutout.

The Braves closed out the series with a 3-2 overtime win in Game 3 on March 17 at the Strathmore Family Centre. After falling 1-0 in the first period, Malik Kaddoura converted a feed from Majid Kaddoura to even the score. The Oilers took the lead late in the second period, before Joel Krahenbil scored a power play marker midway through the third when he converted a feed from Isaac Benoit and Ryan Ries.

Early in overtime, Cole Reinhardt converted a feed from Ries and Benoit to capture the championship.

According to Klemmensen, it was a perfect way to cap off the SCAHL season.

“It was a storybook season, it really was” said the coach. “To be honest with you, we had the best players, and to me, we were supposed to win.”

With the SCAHL Championship in tow, the Wheatland Braves will now take part in the Provincial Championship tournament March 21-24 in Springbank. 

The Braves will face off against Grande Prairie (March 21, 2 p.m.), Springbank (March 22, 11:45 a.m.), Lloydminster (March 23, 9 a.m.) and Edmonton (March 23, 6:45 p.m.). The top two teams in each pool will then meet in the semi-finals on the morning of March 24 before the Championship Game is played at 3:15 p.m.