Current Temperature
31.3°C
The 2015 Heritage Junior League Champions Coaldale Copperheads’ season has finally come to a close.
This past weekend, the team travelled to Stony Plain for the Alberta Junior B Provincials.
The top eight Alberta teams were present in the tournament — this being the Copperheads’ first chance as a franchise to attend.
In fact, only one player on the team’s roster has ever played at this provincial level prior. Therefore, nerves and inexperience was definitely a factor.
Game one, the Copperheads faced the NE Edmonton Red Wings in the opening round-robin play.
The Snakes gained momentum early with a 2-0 lead but come the second period, the team had a three-minute lapse, when Edmonton scored three goals. The Copperheads settled with an upset 5-2 loss, which was a wake up call to the team.
During the second round-robin game, a close match up was against Fairview Flyers. The first period the Snakes were down 1-0 after the first. The Copperheads did their usual, come the second period, when they came out strong — hitting and going hard to the puck — totally offensive mode pulling ahead 2-1.
During the third period it was back and forth action, with an unfortunate deflection goal with 1:48 minutes left and the Flyers scored. The game ended in a tie, which in the end of round-robin play contributed to the Snakes not moving onto the semi-finals.
The third game was matched up against the Calgary Royals. The Copperheads, with an exciting game down 3-1 at one time came back and took their first provincial win, with final score of 7-5.
Edmonton, the first team the Snakes played, was the team ending up being the tourney champions at the end of the weekend — granting the team an opportunity to play at Western Canadian Keystone held in Cold Lake, representing Alberta.
The Copperheads’ first time participation to provincials ended with a record of 1-1-1.
A team social and year-end banquet will be held Apr. 25 at the Coaldale Community Centre.
The team’s HJHL trophies and new arena banners will be on display at the event.
Tickets to the banquet are priced at $25 and can be purchased in advance by contacting coaldalecopperheads@hotmail.com by Apr. 15
You must be logged in to post a comment.