Bethune Bulldogs 2016 Provincial 'A' Champions!

Congratulations Bethune Bulldogs Provincial 'A' Champions...The Bethune Bulldogs defeated the Rosetown Redwings 3-2 in double overtime on Thursday evening to claim the SHA Provincial 'A' title. Ryan Lang scored early in the first period and then late in the first period Rosetown scored on a 5 on 3 and then scored even strength making it 2-1 after one period. Jacob Ulmer scored in the second period to tie the game 2-2 and that is what the score was going into the third period. The Bulldogs led the shot clock 27-21. There was no scoring in the third period and no scoring in the first overtime period. Going into the second overtime period the Bulldogs had outshot the Redwings 50-30. 2:18 into the second overtime period Mike Reich would pot the winner and the Bulldogs finally had that elusive Provincial title. What a remarkable run Bethune had this year...15-1-2 in League play....6-0-0 in League playoffs and 10-1-0 in Provincial play. That would be 31-2-2 for the year. Even more amazing is after losing their first provincial game against Watrous, a game they had the lead with only a few minutes left on the clock...it is as if this one game sparked the Bulldogs to what they had to do to win...After that loss, the Bethune Bulldogs proceeded to win 16 games straight in Provincials and League playoffs on their way to a League title and Provincial title. Three of those wins were in overtime.

The 2016 Bethune Bulldogs join the 1987 Dysart Blues, the 2004 Southey Marlins, the 2013 Cupar Canucks and the 2014 Wynyard Monarchs as the only HHL teams to win both league and a Provincial 'A' title. Along with the Raymore Rockets who won League and the Provincial "C" title in 1980, 1988 and 1997, the Cupar Canucks who won League and the Provincial 'AAA' title in 1995 and the Avonlea Arrows who won League and the Provincial 'D' title in 2005 these are the ten teams that have won both League and a Provincial title in the same year in our fifty year history. There have been many other teams that have been close but these are the teams that did it.

We now look forward to our 51st season...a final update with year end pictures and a few kudos will be forthcoming. Thank you to all that support senior hockey in Saskatchewan and thank you for supporting the Highway Hockey League.

gjt