.gif)
The Boston Pizza/Western Chevrolet are celebrating after two wins over Claresholm vaulted them to the title of league champions of the Central Alberta Hockey League Bantam Tier 3.
The battle to determine who would enter the off season as champions began last Saturday in Hussar.
“They’re a big, strong, tough, and well skating team. We knew they would be a physical team. We stuck to our game plan and kept the puck low, cycled well, funneled bodies and pucks at the net, and tried to bang some in the cage,” said head coach Jamie O’Brien.
The Bantam Raptors got off to a strong start on Saturday. Brian Sandum scored the opening goal, quickly followed by Reagan Burrows.
It wasn’t until early in the second period when Claresholm penetrated the Raptors defence and got their first goal. However, the Raptors kept sending a flurry of shots at the Claresholm net and won 6-3.
The next day the two were back at it again, in Claresholm this time.
Claresholm reinforced their defence, but could not get past the Raptors either. It wasn’t until 14:14 into the second period when Keirra Scollo registered the first goal of the game. The Raptors battled for another and, at 14:00 into the third, Ryan Skytt gave the Raptors their second goal.
Claresholm fought desperately to catch up. Their first and only goal came too late, with only 32 seconds left in the game.
The Bantam Raptors were then named champions and held the banner high.
“The effort from one end of the bench to the other was tremendous. The team was pretty pumped, it’s good to see them get a reward for all their hard work,” said O’Brien.
The season is mostly wrapped up for the team. Later this month they are hoping to get into a big tournament in Calgary.
It was a good year for O’Brien and the team.
“The kids were excellent. The work ethic for each player was top notch.” My job was simple this year. We had lots of support from the parents and the community,” said O’Brien. This past week saw the defeat of one of the three remaining Raptors in the playoffs. The Hi-Way 9 Pee Wee Raptors were up against a tough High River team and were out-matched and lost both games. The Pee Wee Raptors playoff hopes have been dashed after a great season.
The Bertram Drilling/Sports Room Midget Raptors are moving on to the final round of playoffs after two dominating wins against Okotoks this past weekend.
“We didn’t think Okotoks would be that much of a problem,” said head coach Darren Toffan. “But, I told the boys, don’t think that we’ve got this wrapped up.”
Okotoks was seeded low in the playoffs, but did manage to defeat the first place team in the previous round.
On Friday the teams met for their first game in Hussar. The Raptors got on the score board first off a goal from Justin Schinnour. Okotoks managed to keep pace at first and the game was tied 2-2 early in the second period.
The Raptors then started to pour on the offence and finished the game 6-4 over Okotoks.
Two days later in Okotoks, the Raptors were poised to take the series and head to the finals in two weeks.
Okotoks got to the scoreboard first at 3:15 into the first period and managed to hold back the Raptors until 19:43 when Tawn Marshall tied the game up.
From there, Okotoks crumbled under the Raptors offence. The Raptors went on to win the game 6-1.
The wins mean the Midget Raptors will be heading to the league championship finals in two weeks. The team will face either Oyen or Blackie.
The Midget Raptors will be in Manning this weekend competing to be named provincial champions.
For more information about minor hockey, check out www.drumhellerminorhockey.com.
