Gerry's blog

2022-23 will see the official merge of the Highway Hockey League and the Qu'Appelle Valley Hockey League. Last season we continued to operate separately despite having a full interlock schedule. It only makes sense with the cost of trying to run a league and the fact that in the HHL case there are still two teams on leave. There will be one website and that will be www.qvhhl,ca  

The Lumsden Monarchs defeated the Balcarres Broncs 4-3 Sunday evening in Lumsden and won the first QVHHL Championship 3 games to 1. The Monarchs scored on their first shot of the game on a goal from Sam Aulie. The Broncs then proceeded to put the pressure on for the first half of the period but could not score. Riley Riddell would score with just under six minutes left in the period to put the Monarchs up 2-0 and then with one minute left in the period Kyle Johnson scored to put the Monarchs up 3-0 going into the second period.

This type of score doesn't happen often in our league...nor does it happen in the NHL often but the fact is it happens.  The Calgary Flames scored nine goals tonight in their victory over the Oilers...well so did the Balcarres Broncs in their game tonight. The Broncs led 5-4 after one period and were down 8-6 after two periods. In the the third period Brayden Frank scored and then  Justin Bernhardt scored short handed with under two minutes to play. Cory Kosloski scored their ninth goal in overtime to win the game 9-8 and to force a game four in Lumsden on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

A great playoff hockey atmosphere with a great crowd and 50/50, fast paced hockey with lots of chances for both teams to score...just 34 seconds into the first period Jaxon Tait would put the Broncs up 1-0. The Broncs would continue to put pressure on the Monarchs throughout the first ten minutes of the game but could not score. The Monarchs picked things up with nine minutes left in the period on a goal from Nolan Reid. Just over a minute later Kevin DuFour would score and the period ended 2-1 with the Broncs holding a 16-14 shot advantage.

Late in the second OT period, Andrew Perrault scored to break a 1-1 tie that had been in place since the first period and the Lumsden Monarchs take game one of our final 2-1. Tyler Bell scored the first goal of the game in the first period to put the Broncs up 1-0.  Kevin DuFour then scored for the Monarchs and it was 1-1 after one period and would remain that way through to the second OT period. Dawson MacAuley picked up the OT win in the Lumsden net . Dean Brothen was in the Balcarres net. The Broncs had five minor penalties and the Monarchs had three. 

We have a League FINAL...Balcarres vs. Lumsden best of five series...more to come....

Congratulations to the winners of our awards after a very interesting first year of the QVHL and HHL combined. Having missed awards for 2020-21 it is indeed satisfying to have the opportunity to celebrate those that have been named winners this year.

Provincials Update...The Souithey Marlins defeated the Lumsden Monarchs 3-2 on Sunday evening and won this Provincial 'A' series 2 games to 1. Good game and a good turnout on a cold night. The Monarchs had won the first game of this series 6-3 in Lumsden and the Marlins tied the series Saturday evening in Southey with a 6-3 win. The Marlins now face the Drake Canucks with an opportunity to go to the Provincial final. The Canucks defeated the Milestone Flyers 8-4 in Drake on Sunday to win that series 2 games to 1.

Playoffs have arrived! Thanks to their 5-2 victory over the Grenfell Spitfires on Tuesday evening, the Balcarres Broncs finish first place and win the League Pennant Award and have a bye into the semi-finals. We start playoffs this weekend with Southey in Lumsden at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Odessa/Vibank Bruins are in Grenfell for game one of their series on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. Bethune plays Milestone in the third series, schedule to come.

Provincials Update - The Drake Canucks defeated the Balcarres Broncs 4-3 on Saturday evening and won the first round 'A' series 2-0. The Canucks now move on to play the Milestone Flyers in the next round. In Grenfell, the Spitfires defeated the Rocanville Togers 6-2 to take a 1-0 lead in their 'B' series. Game two of this series is this Saturday evening in Rocanville at 8 p.m. If a third game is required then that game will be played on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. in Grenfell. The Bruins will play the winner of this series. This Friday evening at 8:30 p.m.