While it wasn’t the finish hockey fans or the Dragons were hoping for, the season ended for Drumheller’s Junior A team on Tuesday, March 29, in Okotoks.
The Dragons were trailing three games to two going into game 6, and the Okotoks Oilers came out firing, scoring just 59 seconds into the game. The Dragons didn’t roll over, and Myles Hilman scored just 14 seconds later. The Oilers added a powerplay goal two minutes later and another with 5 minutes left in the first to take a 3-1 lead.
The Oilers added one more midway through the second, and then Carter Belitski scored with four minutes left to make it 4-2 after two.
Luke Fennig kept the Dragons’ hopes alive, scoring on the powerplay to make it 4-3, but the Oilers added two empty netters to take the win 6-3.
Coach Kevin Hasselberg says they are still digesting this first playoff run in over two years.
“It was tough right from the first game we played against the Canucks. It was very difficult to lose that game 4-0. There was a lot of uncertainty and a lot of unknowns, whether it was nerves or the pressure of it, at the end of the day, that series was very difficult,” said Hasselberg. “That series rolled right into the second series, we were comfortable, but after Game 4, it just got difficult again. It’s a battle, and that’s what playoffs are. The learning is just the level of competition and how hard you have to work to win playoffs at this level.”
“We’re not happy with the result. I speak on behalf of the players, staff, and everybody, we believe we could have done a little more than we did.”
For Hasselberg, despite the untimely end, it was great for the team to complete the season. On the previous Saturday, 1,307 fans were in attendance at the Drumheller Memorial Arena.
“That was a breath of fresh air for everyone, players, staff, fans, supporters, sponsors, everybody. It was such a grind over the last two and half years, that was kind of the icing on the cake through all of it. We couldn’t be more appreciative of it from what it meant to the organizations and what it meant to the community,” he said.
Six graduating players will be moving on to the next phase of their careers.
“You feel so bad for the 20-year-olds last year, and the 20-year-olds the year before. To have all the 20-year-olds in the lineup with exception of one, everyone got some playoff games in and got to experience it. And the whole season, and being able to play for something, whether it was as an individual or as a team.”
“The fans in the seats watching and supporting, and family being able to come and watch and support them, that’s the beauty of hockey and that’s the moment you treasure most,” he said.
Already they are thinking of the next season, and this year saw some great prospects that can make an impact coming in.
“That’s what you get excited about. Going into a new season and everything is growing and fresh, there are a lot of unknowns and uncertainty. Summer brings direction changes, whether it is organizational or players,” he said. “There are always unknowns and you treat those unknowns as pleasant surprises and something to look forward to.”