President's Update - February 28th, 2018

Lumsden takes 1-0 lead in semi-final...The Lumsden Monarchs defeated the Raymore Rockets 11-7 on Tuesday evening in Lumsden taking a 1-0 lead in the best of five HHL semi-final. It certainly was not a defensive battle. The first period saw Raymore take a 3-1 lead. In the second period the Rockets had a 5-2 lead before Lumsden stormed back with four goals and had a 6-5 lead going into the third period. In the third period the Monarchs increased their lead to 7-5 before the Rockets scored twice to tie the game. The Monarchs would score the final four goals to make the final 11-7. Liam Brennan led the way for the Monarchs with four goals, including a power play goal, and two assists. League scoring leader Kyle Johnson had two goals and three assists for the Monarchs. Also scoring for the Monarchs were Josh Beaudry, Justin Nychuk, Austin Preete, Braeden Adamyk and Torrey Lindsey who scored the game winner. Michael Jordan and Tyler Bell led the way for the Rockets with each scoring two goals. One of Bell's goals was on the power play. Braden Bentz had a goal and two assists. Tyrell Shulko and Drew Kocur also scored for the Rockets. Will Hood made 35 saves in the Lumsden net and Riley Focht-Gabriel made 29 saves in the Raymore net. Lumsden was one for four one the power play and Raymore was one for five. Game two of this series in Tuesday in Raymore at 8:00 and game three is Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. (?) in Lumsden. The Bethune/Strasbourg best of five series starts in Bethune on Thursday evening in Bethune at 8:15. Game two of this series is on Wednesday evening at 8:00 p.m. in Strasbourg and game three is on Thursday evening in Bethune.

League awards soon to be announced...Voting for League Awards are taking place. HHL teams have been sent ballots for the 2017-18 Awards that inlude the Lynwood Millar Coach of the Year award, the Ken Hale Memorial for Manager of the Year, the Stats-Van Trott Trophy for Rookie of the Year, the Eckdahl-Jenkins Memorial Trophy for MVP Local and our League MVP Trophy. The All-Star team will also be voted on. We do know that Kyle Johnson from the Lumsden Monarchs is this year's recipient of the Tyson Sievert HHL Scoring Champion Trophy, We also know that the Bethune Bulldogs have won the the League Pennant  and for the second year in a row have won the Gunnar Lindal Team Goaltending Award. Ryan Holfeld, Ryan Seibel and Riley Christison will be on that trophy this year. The Most Sportsmanlike Player Trophy is not voted on the same as with these other awards. Each team submits one name from another team and that is all there is to it and we usually have a clear winner.

Nominated for Most Valuable Player this year are Ryan Holfeld from the Bethune Bulldogs, Kyle Hall from the Cupar Canucks, Kyle Johnson from the Lumsden Monarchs, Tyler Bell from the Raymore Rockets, Ryley Storzuk from the Southey Marlins and Tanner Exner from the Strasbourg Maroons.

Nominated for Most Valuable Player Local are Greg Ferguson from the Strasbourg Maroons, Travis Mohr from the Southey Marlins, Tyrell Shulko from the Raymore Rockets, Brady Aulie from the Lumsden Monarchs, Travis Orr from the Cupar Canucks and Matt Delahey from the Bethune Bulldogs. Most of our trophies have been in existence for over fifty years. Those that win these awards and that are on the All-Star team are presented a plaque either at a playoff game or at their team windup.

Provincials update...The Raymore Rockets tied the Theodore Buffalo last Saturday evening in Theodore. Game two of this two game total point Provincial 'C' series will be in Raymore on Saturday evening, March 3rd, at 8:00 p.m. The Strasbourg Maroons were defeated by Kyle this 'AAA' serpast Sunday in Strasbourg 7-4. Game two of this Provincial 'D' series is Sunday in Kyle at 4:00 p.m. The Bethune Bulldogs opened up their Provincial 'AAA' best of five Championship against the Rosetown Redwings with a 5-3 win this past Saturday evening in Rosetown. Game two of this series is next Saturday, March 10th in Bethune. The Lumsden Monarchs defeated the Kindersley Red Lions 5-3 last Friday evening in Kindersley in Provincial 'A' action. Game two of this best of three series is in Lumsden Friday evening at 8:30 p.m. If a game three is required it will be played in Kindersley at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.

To keep current with HHL senior hockey please follow us on Twitter http:/twitter.com/HighwayHockey. All of our tweets appear on the front page of our website and are refreshed. Please watch for our live game sheet on Twitter. You can also follow me on the Pensky File. Wonderful time of the year when we have playoffs and Provincials....we have less than one month left and the season is over. Thank you for supporting senior hockey. The crowds have been great and I look forward to seeing you at a game near you.

Gerry