President's Update - March 21st, 2014

Saturday evening Provincial scores:

Avonlea 5 St. Walburg 3

Wynyard 4 Lanigan 1

 

Final set….Wynyard Monarchs versus Bethune Bulldogs...

There will be new Champions in the Highway Hockey league in 2014. Not only have our 2013 champion Cupar Canucks gone down in defeat to the Wynyard Monarchs but the first place Avonlea Arrows went down to defeat against the Bethune Bulldogs reminding us of the difficulty in our league of winning the Pennant and the League Championship (that dual honour now sits at 17 times in 48 years...35% of the time). The Cupar Canucks were the first team in ten years to do that last year and also win a Provincial title.

The Wynyard Monarchs defeated the visiting Cupar Canucks 6-3 on Wednesday evening and have advanced to the League final against the Bethune Bulldogs in a rematch of the 2008 final. Matt Strueby (1 PPG) and Brett Leffler led the way for the Monarchs with two goals each. Bryan Kauk and Donovan Hall on the power play scored the Monarchs other goals. Kyle Ermel scored for the Canucks and Shea Van Luven and Cody Hanson each got a goal on the power play. Dave Perkin picked up his fifth playoff win in net for the Monarchs. Jamie Wutke was in net for the Canucks. His final 2014 playoff record is 4-3. Wutke still leads all goalies with a 3.14 GAA over seven playoff games. Bryan Kauk from the Monarchs leads all scorers with 18 points in seven games played. Mike Reich from Bethune is next with 16 points in six games played. Kyle Ross from Cupar finished playoffs with 14 points.

The Monarchs have been busy with Provincial play while the Bulldogs have been waiting to play the final. Game one of the final is Sunday at 4:00 p.m. in Wynyard and game two will be Tuesday evening in Bethune at 8:00 p.m.

The Avonlea Arrows will be in St. Walburg this Saturday evening to play game one of their Provincial ‘D’ Championship against the Eagles. The Wynyard Monarchs host the Lanigan Pirates on Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m. in game one of their Provincial ‘A’ Final. Both series play game two next Saturday evening the 29th.

Two provincial finals and the start of the League Championship means there is lots of hockey left in the Highway Hockey League beginning this weekend.

Gerry Tomkins

HHL President

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