Warriors clinch first round bye

Times Editor 

 

The Wheatland Warriors clinched a first round bye in the playoffs after a pair of victories this past weekend.

The local double-A bantam team defeated the Red Deer Steel Kings and the Badlands Longhorns, improving their record to 18-8-5 on the season and clinching second place in the North Division.

Led by Sarah Lecavalier’s two goals, the Warriors started the weekend with a 2-0 road win over Red Deer on Feb. 9. With a solid defensive game, Wheatland limited the Steel Kings to just 10 shots on goal, giving goaltender Nelson Schiiler the shutout.

The Warriors returned home the following day, clinching the first round bye with a 9-1 thrashing over the Longhorns at the Strathmore Family Centre.

Chris Rebeyka registered a goal and three helpers to lead the way for the Warriors. Regan Kinley added a pair of goals, while Scott Desserre, Brad Hendricks and Rob Finkbeiner each added a goal and an assist. Kody Hammond, Reed Hickey and Andrew Bretin each added a goal, while Daryl Agerskov and Ryan Bell each chipped in with two assists.

The Warriors will cap off the regular season schedule with a road game against Sylvan Lake on Feb. 18.

Meanwhile, in provincial play, the Warriors advanced to the zone final with a 6-3 win in Game 1 on Jan. 31 and a 4-4 draw in Game 2 on Feb. 7 versus the Bow Valley Timberwolves.

The Warriors will now take on Medicine Hat in a best-of-two home-and-home series in the zone final. Game 1 is slated for Feb. 22 (7:30 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre, with Game 2 on Feb. 24 (2:15 p.m.) in Medicine Hat.

Braves respond

The Wheatland Braves responded from a rare loss with a pair of wins this past weekend.

The local double-A peewee team crushed the Medicine Hat Venom 9-0 on Feb. 9 in Hussar, before posting a 5-1 road win over Blackie the following day.

The Braves, who improved to 26-3-1 on the season, will take on the Badlands Longhorns on Feb. 15 (7:30 p.m.) in Hussar, before finishing the season in Sylvan Lake on Feb. 17 against the Lakers.

Meanwhile the Braves advanced to the Provincial Championship Tournament March 14-17 after a pair of wins over Cochrane. The Braves took Game 1 with a 3-2 road win on Feb. 4, before advancing with a 4-1 win on home ice in Game 2 on Feb. 11.

Chiefs falter

Any momentum carried by the Wheatland Chiefs during an extending winning streak has snapped.

The local double-A midget team has dropped three games in a row, all on home ice, falling to 17-14-2 on the season.

The Chiefs lost 3-2 to Bow Valley on Feb. 4, 5-4 to the Red Deer Pro Stitch on Feb. 7, before falling 3-2 to the CBHA Blackhawks on Feb. 8.

The team is now preparing for their last regular season game on Feb. 16 in Cranbrook against the Ice.

Despite their three-game slide in regular season action, the Chiefs pulled out a 6-2 home win over Cochrane in Game 1 of their provincial playdown on Feb. 10.

Game 2 was slated for Feb. 14 in Cochrane (result was not available as of press time).