PREECEVILLE- It has been a long road but the Preeceville Pats U18 hockey team has overcome challenges and injuries to have a successful season that has paid off in big wins. Preeceville finished the season in second place in the league, just short of Indian Head.
Every time during the season when Preeceville met up with Indian Head, the results were always devastating for the Pats with losses each time. In what can only be called a chance for redemption, Preeceville has now been faced with playing Indian Head for the league A-banner title.
The first of the final matches saw Preeceville traveling to Indian Head on March 21 to face their nemesis. It was a very close, hard-hitting game but Preeceville managed to topple Indian Head for the first time all season with a 5-4 win. Scoring for Preeceville were: Tomas Hauber, Briel Beblow and Wyatt Wolkowski of Canora, along with Spencer Leech and Kaiden Masley.
Assists were by: Cole Masley, Kaiden Masley, Dixon Paul and Tomas Hauber.
Preeceville was scheduled to play Indian Head for the League title in front of a hometown crowd in Preeceville on March 27.
Meanwhile, in Preeceville’s run for the Provincial title, they recorded one of a very few losses all season against Balgonie on Mach 16. Preeceville played host to Balgonie ready for another win, but were denied and stopped short when they lost the first game with a 5-3 loss. Goal scorers for Preeceville were: Tomas Hauber, Trae Peterson and Spencer Leech. Assists were added by: Hudsyn Nelson, Mason Babiuk, Kaiden Masley and Brody Shankowsky.
The loss caught Preeceville off guard and sent the Pats back to the dressing room to regroup for the next and final match in the semifinal series. Preeceville traveled to Balgonie on March 19 and were out for redemption. The Pats were not to be denied and skated away with a 6-2 win. Scoring for Preeceville were: Hudsyn Nelson (three), Porter Wolkowski and Tomas Hauber of Canora, and Dixon Paul. Assists came from: Hunter Lamb, Tomas Hauber, Wyatt Wolkowski and Briel Beblow of Canora, as well as Kaiden Masley and Hudsyn Nelson.
The win meant that a 10-minuate mini game had to be played to break the 1-1 tie in the series. Hudsyn Nelson, assisted by Trae Peterson, came up big and put one between the posts to wrap up the win.
With the victory, Preeceville moved on to play in the Provincial finals against Eston Ramblers with the first game held in Eston on March 23.
The final and deciding game is scheduled to take place in Preeceville on March 31. The team will be playing in front of a large hometown crowd with potential of winning it all at home. Come out and cheer them on to a victory!
