The Miniota-Elkhorn C-Hawks will once again play for a North Central Hockey League title.
The defending champions defeated the Virden Oil Kings, 3-0, in the NCHL semifinals. The C-Hawks, who finished with the league’s best record, nipped Virden, 4-3, in overtime in Elkhorn in game one. As the visitors, Miniota-Elkhorn won game two of the best-of-five series 5-1 before closing out the series in Miniota with a 7-1 victory.
“It was a cleanly played, good series,” M-E manager Mac Lelond said.
The C-Hawks await their opponent with Grandview and Swan Valley playing in the other semifinal.
With the C-Hawks sitting at the top of the league, they have the advantage of a first home game in the finals, which could be as early as this Sunday if Grandview continues their winning streak on Wednesday evening.
The Virden versus M-E semifinal was a battle between two teams who knew each other well. Before game one of the series, forward Cam Whyte of the fourth-seeded Oil Kings said, “We are looking forward to the challenge. Growing up in Virden, we often played Elkhorn so there's a long rivalry between the two teams so we are looking forward to the battle.”
Game 1: C-Hawks 4, Oil Kings 3 OT
In game one on March 2, M-E forward Curtis Oliver came through with the game winner in overtime. His goal came just after he got on the ice following a change.
“I called for a pass from Devrin Stonehouse and then used the defenceman as a screen and the puck found its way into the net,” Oliver said.
The C-Hawks led 1-0 after the first period. However, the Oil Kings pumped in three goals in the second session to take a 3-1 lead.
Tanner Lewis lit the lamp twice for Virden. In the third period, Miniota-Elkhorn scored twice to knot the contest at 3-3 and send it to overtime.Lelond said that coming back late in game one to earn the overtime victory gave his team confidence and was a key to the series.
Dillin Stonehouse and Kyle McLeod each had three assists for the C-Hawks. Lewis and Drake Bodie each had two points for Virden.
Oil Kings netminder Josh Peterson fended off 43 of the 47 shots the C-Hawks fired at him. Miniota-Elkhorn’s Cory Gardham had 15 saves on 18 shots.
Game 2: C-Hawks 5, Oil Kings 1
On March 3, the C-Hawks held a 2-1 lead after the first period. The Oil Kings were unable to get any more past Gardham after that. With two goals in the second period and one in the third, Miniota-Elkhorn posted a 5-1 victory on the road.
McLeod had three assists for the second straight game. Fellow C-Hawks Shawn Bowles, Oliver, and Devrin Stonehouse each had two points. Derek Cross had Virden’s goal.
Game 3: C-Hawks 7, Virden 1
The C-Hawks closed out the series with a 7-1 victory on March 6. It ended the best season the Oil Kings have had in many years.
Grandview-Swan Valley series
At the Empire-Advance deadline, No. 3 seed Grandview led the other semifinal series, 2-0, over Swan Valley, which posted the NCHL’s second-best regular season record.
For current NCHL schedules and results, check the league’s website at northcentralhockeyleague.ca.
