The Miniota-Elkhorn C-Hawks have flown to another North Central Hockey League championship.
The squad, seeded No. 2 in the senior league playoffs, swept the No. 1 Russell Rams, 3-0, in the best-of-five series. After winning 4-1 on the road on March 8, last week the C-Hawks claimed a 4-3 victory at home on Friday and won 6-3 in Russell on Saturday.
Miniota-Elkhorn also won the league title in 2017. In the last nine seasons, the C-Hawks have been to the NCHL finals eight times and won four of them.
Next: Provincials
Miniota-Elkhorn now advances to the Senior A provincials. They will take on the Tiger Hills Hockey League champion – Boissevain or Gladstone – in Rivers on March 28. On March 31, the team plays the Carillon Senior Hockey League champ – Ste. Anne or Grunthal – at Winnipeg’s Iceplex. On April 5, the NCHL champs meet the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League victors - Warren or Morden - at the Iceplex. The top two teams from the round robin will battle at the Iceplex on April 6 for the title.
The C-Hawks have long had a veteran core that they have been able to add to. This season’s additions included Elkhorn’s Taylor Sanheim, a former major junior player; Bradley Bowles of Elkhorn, an ex-Junior A standout who played in U Sports; and Miniota’s Brad Cole, who had a long professional career.
“I am so proud of our group as a whole and how well they supported each other,” coach Tyler Mitchell said. “Sometimes when you bring in bigger names, junior players, or guys that have played elite hockey, it can kind of rock the boat or egos can get in the way. Not with these guys. They came and they gave everything they had and did whatever they had to do to win.”
