As the hockey season ended, Stettler Atom C boys participated in a season-ending tournament in Innisfail this past weekend, March 31 to April 2, giving it their best and securing a place in the final against Knights of Columbus St. Matthews Thunderbirds from Edmonton.
However they lost 5-2, securing an overall second place.
In their first game on Friday morning, March 31, they faced Okotoks Oilers and won with a convincing score of 8-3.
“Although the Stettler team was down 2-0, Kelly Kramchynski (#10) scored unassisted with 30 seconds left in the period to wake up his team,” said Head Coach Kirk Blake. “Okotoks scored again halfway through the second but less than one minute later Kelly scored again with an assist from Nathan Deaver (#9).”
Stettler scored two more goals, both by Ashtyn Tibbo (#5). The first assisted by Adam Kromm (#8) and Connor Blake (#12), second assisted by Kromm and Braden Kneller (#14) before the end of the second period to take the lead into the third period.
The third period was all Stettler with two unassisted goals by Blake, and another for Tibbo, assisted by Jonathan Valentino(#13) and one for Seth Baird with assists from Kramchynski and Parker Van Haga (#4).
In their second game against Hanna Colts on Saturday afternoon, April 1, Stettler won again 5-0, which put them in the final.
“After beating the same Hanna team the last two weeks in exhibition play the two teams met again and it was clear that Hanna came to play,” Blake added. The Storm had to play on their heels for the first seven minutes just happy to get whistles and stoppages in play. After calming down a little Stettler was finally able to start working the puck around and was rewarded with a goal by Chance Robinson (#19) with assists from Blake and Kramchynski. After this Stettler surged ahead, winning the game.
On Sunday afternoon, April 2, the Stettler boys faced Knights of Columbus St. Matthews Thunderbirds from Edmonton, losing 5-2.
“The best was saved for last. Both teams were pretty evenly matched that battled hard,” Blake noted.
This led to a scoreless first period with great saves by goalies at both ends of the ice, according to Blake.
“Early in the second period, Edmonton scored a short-handed goal but Stettler didn’t let it get them down finishing the period down 1-0,” Blake explained.
The third period continued to showcase solid defensive hockey until a Stettler goal with eight minutes remaining to tie the game by Kramchynski, unassisted.
Just over a minute later Blake gave Stettler the lead of 2-1 with another unassisted goal.
However, Edmonton fired back 12 seconds later to tie the game at 2.
“Then the penalty trouble began for Stettler as Edmonton capitalized on Stettler having two players in the penalty box scoring two goals in 30 seconds. Even back at full strength the Storm couldn’t get the momentum back and gave up another goal in the final minute of the game,” Blake added. “Slade Perry stood on his head to make some great saves but took the loss in goal.”