The best-of-five series matches the top two teams in the THHL West Division regular season against each other. The C-Hawks were a league-best 17-1-0-0, while Killarney was 15-3-0-0. In their lone matchup this season, Miniota-Elkhorn prevailed 3-0 on the road.
“Killarney is a very solid team,” C-Hawks coach Garth Mitchell said. “Our one regular season game was a very close, tight game that we were able get a victory on one of best 60-minute efforts of the year.
“They are the type of team that you would expect in the division final - excellent goaltending and defence and a very good group of forwards- very solid team.”
Miniota-Elkhorn hosts game one on Friday. Game two is Sunday in Killarney. The C-Hawks host on Wednesday. If needed, game four is March 17 in Killarney, and Miniota-Elkhorn hosting game five on March 19.
Miniota-Elkhorn swept Rivers 3-0 on the division semifinals. Killarney defeated Virden, 3-0, in their series. In the East Division finals, Gladstone is taking on the Minnedosa Bombers.
Gladstone’s Jordy Geddes leads the THHL playoffs with 23 points and 17 assists. Miniota-Elkhorn’s Taylor Sanheim has a league-best eight goals so far this postseason. He is second in points with 19. Teammate Jason Bowles is third in scoring with 17 points.
C-Hawks goalie Cory Gardham has backed the team to four of their five wins. He has a 1.50 goals against average while teammate Ian Oliver has a 1.00 GAA.
Virden Oil Kings
This winter the Virden senior team was successful on the ice and in the community.
“From the start of the year there seemed to be a lot of excitement around the team in talking to people,” coach Ryan Mathieson said. “From the volunteers to the sponsors and fan support, it takes a community behind the team to make things work and we appreciate that immensely.”
The Oil Kings saw their successful season end March 1 with a 5-2 game three loss in the THHL West Division semifinal series with Killarney. At home, the Shamrocks led 1-0 and 2-0 at the intermissions. They used three powerplay goals in the third to extend their lead to 5-0 by the 7:20 mark. The Oil Kings battled back with goals by Colin Cook, on a powerplay, and Ryan Colon, but it was not enough.
“In the West semifinal, we had the effort every night but had trouble converting on our scoring chances,” Mathieson said. “Killarney played well and between their goaltending and defensive structure were able to close out the leads they got.”
Virden had fallen 5-2 in game one and 2-1 in game two. The Oil Kings were 14-3-1-0 in the regular season to finish third in their division. The Virden squad swept the Hartney Blues, 2-0, in a division quarterfinals series.
“The group aspired to longer playoff run but the West Division of the THHL is full of strong teams with a chance to win,” Mathieson said. “We had the commitment and elevated our game in playoffs, but it wasn't meant to be this year. It's a lesson we will learn from and come back hungry for success next season.”
In the postseason, Ty Lewis led Virden with five goals and eight points. Tanner Lewis had a team-high four assists. Devon LeBlanc had four goals and six points to place second on the Oil Kings in both categories. Tristan Rinn played all five playoff tilts for Virden. He had a 3.71 GAA.
