CANORA - With their playoff position already settled, the Canora Cobras wrapped up their Sask East Hockey League regular season with a pair of games over the weekend.
There was a 4-3 loss in Canora to Rocanville on Feb. 3, followed by a road game where the Cobras fell by 5-3 to the Grandview Comets.
Even though the Cobras had no chance of moving up in the standings, the Rocanville game appeared to have plenty of playoff-like intensity.
“We played well against Rocanville,” said Canora Coach Darren Schwartz. “We just didn’t get the breaks, that’s the way it’s been going lately.”
The Tigers held a 1-0 lead after the first period, but Austin Severson of the Cobras ripped a shot past the Rocanville goalie to tie the score early in the second period. Just over five minutes later, Casey Mydonick of Canora gave the Cobras their only lead of the evening, working his way to the Tigers’ net and stuffing the puck past the goalie.
But the Tigers scored a pair of power play goals on a double minor to the Cobras later in the period, and took the lead for good.
“We’ve got to be better at staying out of the penalty box,” said Schwartz. “We need to play physical to be successful, but have discipline at the same time. Especially with the playoffs coming up, teams have good power plays and will usually score some goals.”
The Tigers scored a shorthanded goal in the third period, which turned out to be the game winner. But Schwartz maintained that the puck never crossed the goal line.
“The referee wasn’t in the right spot to call it. Hopefully something like this doesn’t happen in the playoffs.”
The Cobras had a couple of late power plays, which led to a goal by Kody Rock of Canora, but they couldn’t find a way to score the tying goal, resulting in the one-goal loss. Ryley Stefanyshyn of Canora was the top playmaker for the Cobras on the evening with two assists.
The next evening, the Cobras made the trip to Grandview to face the Comets.
“It was a meaningless game for us, and we were shorthanded with only 11 skaters,” said Schwartz. “We wanted to have something to build on going into the playoffs. It was a physical game, but we just didn’t compete at a high level.”
The Comets led the game 3-1 after the first period. The teams split four goals in the second period, resulting in the final score of 5-3 for the Comets. The final period was scoreless.
Mathew Wilgosh of Canora was the offensive leader for the Cobras on this night with two goals and an assist. Ryley Stefanyshyn was the other goal scorer for the Cobras.
As the result of the final games of the regular season, the Cobras learned that they will face the Swan Valley Axemen in the first round of the playoffs, a team that had a record of 15 wins and only three losses during the regular season.
The top scorer during the regular season for the Cobras was Skyler Hladun with 14 goas and 14 assists for 28 points in only 14 games, good for tenth in the league. Ryley Stefanyshyn was close behind with 23 points, including 11 goals.
Schwartz said the players believe they can beat the Axemen, if they play as a team.
“We had over 190 people at the last home game against Rocanville and we’re among the top teams in the league in attendance,” said Schwartz. “We hope people continue to come out for the playoffs because our fans are good and loud. Our boys love playing in front of a full house.”
The best-of-three first-round series against Swan Valley opens in Minitonas, Manitoba on Saturday (Feb.11). Game two is set for Canora on Feb. 17, with the third and deciding game, if necessary, back in Minitonas on Feb. 19.
