The Aberdeen-Cudworth Blazers won the provincial U15C hockey championship on home ice last weekend, downing the Milestone Flyers 4-2 to sweep the best-of-three series in two straight games. The Blazers won the first game in Milestone 8-5.
“It’s been a long battle to get here,” said Blazers head coach Jason Doering in an on-ice interview during the post-game celebration. “The kids came together. They definitely have a chemistry that is unbeatable and it showed tonight.”
Despite being without their leading scorer, Cohen Palchinski, the Blazers provincial team had plenty of depth thanks to the addition of three players from Hague.
The Blazers drew first blood midway through the first period when Jaxon Doering scored on a power play. The gritty energy of Doering, Wil Bazarkiewicz, Riley Harrison and Ryder Samulak throughout the game showed why they had earned the ‘C’ and ‘A’ on their chests.
The Blazers added two more goals late in the middle frame by Austin Ruskin and Jakobie Sands. But that 3-0 lead melted quickly when Milestone’s Joe Watson scored twice in the final two minutes of the second period. All of a sudden it was a one-goal game after 40 minutes.
Blazers defenseman Ryder Samulak scored the insurance goal midway through the third period with a quick wrist shot that beat Flyers goalie Lane Moyse high on the glove side. The Flyers applied pressure in the final minutes but Blazers goaltender Sam Bazarkiewicz stood tall between the pipes to lock up the win.
The Blazers outshot the Flyers 44-31, and won the bulk of puck battles along the boards and on open ice.
“It wasn’t our best game, and it wasn’t our prettiest game,” said Doering. “I think the long road we travelled just to get here showed a little bit tonight, but I’m just glad they pulled together and got the win.”
Doering said this team has worked hard all season. In the provincial playoffs, they beat Debden, Watrous and Foam Lake to reach the provincial final.
The provincial championship marks the end of a 14-year drought for Aberdeen. The community last won provincial banners in 2008-09; when it harvested a bumper crop of crowns, including the Midget D, Bantam D and Pee Wee D championships.
“The very first practice we had, I told them: ‘this is your championship provincial team, so let’s get to work.’ And they didn’t let me down,” said Doering. “I’m very proud of them.”
But even with a provincial championship title under their collective belt, the Blazers still have one more challenge.
Game Two of the Sask Valley hockey league championship is slated for Wednesday night, March 29, in Cudworth. The Blazers are going into that contest one game up on the Prince Albert Hurricanes, thanks to a successful protest lodged over a contentious tilt in Prince Albert on March 21. In that contest, Palchinski was given a game suspension, and the Blazers were assessed a total of 41 minutes in penalties.
The Hurricanes won that game by a score of 3-1, but after a protest by the Blazers alleging unfair officiating, Sask Hockey ruled in the Blazers’ favour and awarded them the victory. However, the one-game suspension for Palchinski was upheld, and he is ineligible to play in Game Two in Cudworth. (He was not able to play in the provincial game against Milestone because he has to serve his league suspension before he can suit up again.)
The date and location of Game Three, if necessary, will be posted on the Sask Valley Minor Hockey League website.
“Going into the league final, I’m just going to tell the kids to remember everything we practiced, to keep working hard, to keep your feet moving and to finish strong,” said Doering. “I’ll tell them to give it everything they have, they have nothing to lose.”