After both Maymont and Radisson experienced full rinks and the game five 50/50 was over $500, it is safe to say the first season of the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League was a fan pleaser.
After each team won twice in their opponent's rink, game five was set for Tuesday night in Maymont and the rink was packed.
Radisson scored early on a long shot, beating goalie Mat Leitner with a shot he would likely want back. Maymont received a break minutes later to tie the game, as a dump in from centre ice hit a stanchion on the glass and bounced into the net past Nathan Wurst. Wurst skated out of his net anticipating to stop the puck behind the net and a bad bounce tied the game at 1-1.
The game remained close, until Maymont grabbed a 4-1 lead. The Settlers scored two of those three goals on the same shift creating a huge momentum shift in the game.
First, Vince Sauvie scored on a breakaway with a beautiful move, and seconds later, Kenton Albert was left alone in the slot and sniped for the Settlers.
Radisson hung in there and scored two goals later in the second period. One was put in with less than a minute left off the stick of Troy Rookes making it a 4-3 game heading into the third period.
Sauvie and Albert hooked up for Maymont once more in the third, as Sauvie settled a flipped puck in his glove, placed it on the ice and passed it to Albert on the two-on-none. Albert was caught by a back checking Radisson player, and as he was tied up, the Radisson player, the puck and Wurst all went into the net before the goal posts were dislodged giving Maymont some insurance.
Kinley Sevick added an empty net goal to secure the win and the Maymont Settlers began their celebration, as the first team to ever win the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League championship.
Both teams had created several scoring chances, but good goaltending, which was a constant throughout the series, made for exciting, close games. Radisson and Maymont both hit the post at least twice during game five, but it appeared the team that wanted it more prevailed.
Leitner was named the playoff MVP.
Before game four in Radisson, the regular season awards were presented and it was the other Maymont goaltender, Shane Chicoine, earning the top goaltender award. Todd Heck of the Battleford Beaver Blues was named the league's top defenceman and Rookes, the Radisson forward, was selected as the top forward.
Maymont's Sevick won the most sportsmanlike player award and Albert won the top scorer's trophy after notching 49 points in 16 games.
What better way to end the 2010-11 season? The former Maymont Blues of the North Saskatchewan River Hockey League were more or less split into two teams to help form this new league and they go the distance to a fifth and deciding game in the league championship, which entertained fans from around the Northwest.
The SPHL appears healthy and here to stay, as the rumours float about two or three teams interested in joining the league next season. Only time will tell for sure what will happen with the league, but one thing is certain, hockey is alive in Radisson and, now especially Maymont.
