Monthly Archives: April 2012

Kenaston, Sports

Kenaston Blizzards capture Senior D title

The Kenaston Blizzards pose for a picture with the Senior D Provincial championship banner and trophy. The Blizzards won the provincial finals in Lucky Lake on March 25. (Contributed photo)

KENASTON—Tin is the traditional 10th anniversary gift.

But it was silver the Kenaston Blizzards were hoisting on March 25 as they raised the J. W. Hamilton Trophy for winning the Senior D Provincial Championships.

The Blizzards beat Lucky Lake/Dinsmore 6-1 in the third game of the best of three series.

The win came exactly 10 years to the day since Kenaston won its first Provincial D title in 2002.

Since then the Blizzards have been to the semi finals, north finals, and other rounds of provincial playoffs, but “we were never able to do it again until now,” said coach Barry Firby.

He said this year’s team was different thanks to homegrown products Mike Prpich and Aaron Phillips who came home to play with Kenaston after playing professional hockey.

“And we added a couple imports too,” Firby said.

The Blizzards’ roster also includes players from Kenaston, Hawarden and Hanley areas as well as goalie Kevin Hassett and forward Kenton Dulle, who hail from Craik.

After beating the Kyle Elks in the semi-finals, the Blizzards met Lucky Lake/Dinsmore in the finals.

Lucky Lake/Dinsmore won the first game 6-4 in Dinsmore. On March 24, Kenaston won the second game 5-1 at home. The Blizzards travelled to Lucky Lake for the final game beating their hosts 6-1.

Between provincial playoffs and league playoffs, Blizzards have become the best show in town.

“Everybody is very excited in Kenaston. We’ve had some really good crowds watch us,” Firby said.

Kenaston was in Rosetown Saturday night for the fifth and deciding game in the Sask Valley Hockey League. The series was knotted at 2-2.

The Rosetown Redwings won the first two games in the series 9-6 and 6-3 respectively.

The Blizzards came back March 20 to defeat the Redwings 6-5 in Rosetown and then beat them in Kenaston last Tuesday, March 27, 6-3. Lyndon Leard and Alekcei McAvoy had two goals each for the Blizzards with Kenton Dulle and Aaron Phillips getting a goal apiece in the win. Rosetown outshot Kenaston 38-26 with Blizzards goalie Kevin Hassett stopping 35 shots.

Results of Saturdays league final in Rosetown were unavailable at press time.

The Kenaston Blizzards 2011-12 player roster included goalies Jon Sagen and Kevin Hassett as well as Lyndon Leard, Josh Kerpan, Nick Prpich, David McDougall, Derek Butcher, Skylar Feltis, Clint Ringdal, Ryley Lowdermilk, Scott McQueen, Tyrel Kerpan, Kenton Dulle, Garrett Soparlo, Mike Prpich, Don McAvoy, Lee Carpenter, Jesse Ouellette, Chris Prpich, Lucas Ringdal, John Ouellette, Alekcei McAvoy, Mike Hertz and Aaron Phillips.

Davidson, Sports

Cyclones win Provincial C and LLHL titles

DAVIDSON—Davidson Cyclones brought home a Senior C Provincial Championship banner after a decisive 6-2 win over the Kyle Elks in Kyle on March 25.

The Davidson Cyclones won the Senior C Provincial Championship with a 6-2 win over the Kyle Elks. They pose for a picture with the provincial championship banner and trophy. (Photo by Gord McRae)

The Cyclones “played as good as we could,” coach Jason Shaw said of his team’s effort in the second and third games of the best of three-game series.

The Cyclones, after losing Game 1 in Kyle by a score of 9-4, had to win the March 23 game at home. They did, winning 4-3 to force the third and final game in Kyle.

 

Friday, March 23 in Davidson

Kyle’s Justin Williams opened scoring in the first period until Davidson’s Derek Allan tied the score at one. In the second period Danny Williams regained the lead for the Elks until Josh Sim scored to tie it 2-2. Brett Siroski put Davidson ahead 3-2 after a scramble in front. The Cyclones’ penalty kill surpassed expectations as Chase Schafer scored a short-handed goal for the 4-2 lead.

In the third period Danny Williams scored on a breakaway to put the Elks within one. Davidson managed to hang on for the 4-3 win and to force Game 3 in Kyle.

The Cyclones hit the road for the Sunday night final.

According to commentary by “feedmill” on the website Long Lake Hockey League Talk, “I think Kyle thought they would wrap it up easily on home ice, and that cost them as the Cyclones knew that anything less than a solid effort on the road would not cut it.”

About six minutes into the first period, Kyle’s Tom Williams scored for the 1-0 lead. It was short lived. A minute later Davidson’s Chris Babiy, while on the powerplay, scored to tie the score. Zach Sim scored to put Davidson up 2-1 to end the first period.

In the second, after back and forth action, Steve DaSilva scored midway through the period to make it 3-1 for the Cyclones. Then, Colton Allan scored and DaSilva banged in his second of the night to end the period 5-1 for Davidson.

In the third, Derek Allan scored to stretch the lead to 2-1.  With about four minutes remaining, Kyle managed to sneak one past Cyclones’ netminder Mark Zoerb, but that was all.

Davidson won 6-2.

This is the Cyclones third straight provincial title.

The 2011-12 Senior C banner will join two Senior D banners won by the Cyclones in 2011 and 2010 as well as a Senior C banner the Cyclones won in 1989.

Cyclones are Long Lake Hockey Champs

The Cyclones, last Tuesday, won the Long Lake Hockey League final with a 2-1 win over the Drake Canucks.

In the first period, Davidson’s Carter Smith scored the first goal of the game. It would be the only goal until the third period when the Cyclones, who were down two men, received a much-needed cushion courtesy of Josh Sim. The score was 2-0 for Davidson. Then late in the third, Drake finally found the net to make it a one-goal game. With seconds remaining, Drake scored to tie the game, or so they thought. The goal was disallowed because it was batted into the net by a player’s hand.

The Cyclones won 2-1 to win giving them a 3-1 lead in the series and the league championship.

The Cyclones’ season may be finished, but some of the team’s players are still playing hockey.

Steve DaSilva, Derek Allan and Josh and Zach Sim will be lending their talents to the Lloydminster Border Kings who are hosting the Allan Cup. The six-team, round robin tournament for the National Senior Hockey Championship runs from April 16 to 21.

A fifth member of the Cyclones, Carter Smith, may also be playing for the Cup. Smith plays with the Rosetown Redwings, who are in the midst of Provincial A finals against Balgonie. If Rosetown wins, then Smith may have a chance to play against his Cyclones’ teammates.