Stettler has a provincial champion: bantam Scotiabank Storm returned from Whitecourt, with provincial gold medals over the weekend, a feat they achieved after first becoming the zone champions during the weekend tournament.
The championship win came with a golden goal in overtime in the game against Beaumont on Sunday.
The game went to overtime after the teams remained tied 4-4 at the end of regulation.
In reaching the finals, the bantams Storm overpowered Spruce Grow Broncos 7-2, shut out Okotoks Oilers 12-0 and edged over Beaumont Braves 11-2 to reach the semi-finals, where they struck Airdrie Lightning 4-1. In the final, they met Beaumont Braves once again and won 5-4.
Most valuable players of the tournament were Adam Ternes, Dylan Houston, (assistant captain) Riley Anderson, Logan Davidson and (captain) Parker Cassidy.
Scotiabank Storm are still in competition for their Tier 1 league championship.
In another success story in minor hockey, both female Stettler teams advanced to the league finals, but had to settle for silver medals .
The female peewee Whippits met Viking in the first round of league playoffs, beating them in both games with scores of 2 - 1 and 3- 0. In round two, Whippits matched up with the Red Deer 1 team. Despite having only managed a tie with team earlier in the season, peewee girls skated their way to two successive wins with scores of 5 - 1 and 3 - 1. This set up the final against the Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs. In the first game of the series , the Whippits could not penetrate the the defense line of the Chiefs and lost 4-0. In the second game, although they took an early 2-0 lead with Kaitlin Fisher and Morgan VanDusen scoring back to back quick goals, the Chiefs managed to turn the game around and finished it with a score of 5-3.
The midget Vipers, for their part, met Innisfail 2 in the first round to the league finals. Games were tight and play was intense but the local girls were triumphant winning 4 - 2 and 3 - 2. In rhe second round, the Vipers were matched up with the Sylvan Lake Lakers. Despite having failed to beat Lakers during the season, the Vipers pulled off two consecutive 3-1 victories over the Lakers to advance to the finals to play against Rocky Mountain Herricanes.
This set up the final match for the league banner against the Rocky Mountain Hurricanes. They lost the away game 3-2 and when the decisive game to the home ice, the Vipets could grab a 2-1 lead in the final period of the game, but the Hurricanes rebounded with strength and ended the game with a score of 3-2 in their favor.
Follows playoff news of last week for teams in Stettler Minor Hockey Association playing in North Central Minor Hockey Association with game results as published on the NCMHA website:
• Atom tier 2
Stettler Elks lost 6-5 to Kneehill Chiefs of Three Hills on March 20.
Tye Mulgrove scored two goals for Stettler while Brett Coleman, Samuel Hamelin and Jackson scored one each.
Stettler Elks skated to a 3-3 tie with Kneehill on March 19.
Jackson Zimmerman tallied two for Stettler and Tye Mulgrove scored one.
• Atom tier 5
Stettler Storm blew out Blackfalds Bulldogs 14-5 on March 21.
Branden Tucker sparked the attack with six goals.
Zachary Bourdon and Edward Kim each scored twice while Chelsey DeVloo, Derek Smuyth, Garrett Hogg and Ethan Tomkow added one each.
Stettler Storm Elks leashed Blackfalds Bulldogs 6-4 on March 20.
Chase Walton, Delaney Anderson, Riley Cornelssen, Clayton Smith, Evan Imbery and Robyn Yaremcio scored for Stettler.
Stettler Storm Elks doubled Rimbey Snipers 4-2 on March 19.
Madison Kuefler scored two goals for Stettler while Isaac Nibourg and Chase Walton scored one each.
Stettler Storm edged Stettler Storm Elks 4-3 on March 16.
Edward Kim led the Storm with two goals while Derek Smyth and Brenden Tucker added one each.
For the Elks, Waycee Hellekson scored two goals while Robyn Yaremcio added one.
• Peewee girls
Stettler lost 5-3 to Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs 2 on March 21.
Kaitlin Fisher, Morgan VanDusen and Jayden Hogg replied for Stettler.
The day before, Stettler was blanked 4-0 by the Chiefs.
• Peewee boys tier 2
Stettler DQ Blizzards creamed Kneehill Chief of Three Hills 7-1 on March 21.
Mathew Sylvester and Quentin Greenwood led the attack with two goals each.
Andrew Bauman, Denton Repchuk and Quade Cassidy scored one each.
The Blizzards edged the Chiefs 4-3 on March 20.
Quentin Greenwood scored two goals, while Tanner Steinwand and Kieran Rost added one each.
Stettler skated to a 4-4 draw with Olds Outlaws on March 21.
Brandon Mills, Mark Bengert, Brandon Kent and Tristan Laughlin scored for Stettler.
Stettler fell 5-3 to Sylvan Lake Lakers on March 20.
Brandan Bardwell, Mark Bengert and Brycen Bainbridge replied for Stettler.
Stettler defeated Sylvan Lake Lakers 4-1 on March 18.
Zack Werbowesky, Brandan Bardwell, Mark Bengert and Brycen Bainbridge scored for Stettler.
• Bantam tier 1
Stettler Scotiabank Storm blanked Camrose Battle River Credit Union Bulldogs 3-0 on March 16.
Adam Ternes, Scott Ternes ans Dylan Houston scored for Stettler.
Devon Woelk earned the shut out in goal for Stetter as he stopped all 24 shots.
• Bantam tier 3
Stettler Storm lost 3-1 to Ponoka 3-1 on March 16.
Dylan Hotte scored the lone Stetler goal.
• Midget girls
Stettler Vipers were edged 3-2 by Rocky Hurricanes of Rocky Mountain House 3-2 on March 21.
Lindsey Dietz and Dani VanDusen replied for Stettler.
Stettller fell 3-2 to the Hurricanes on March 20.
Jessica Hart scored the lone two goals for Stettler.
Stettler tripled Sylvan Lake Lakers 3-1 on March 18.
Jessica Hart scored all three goals for the Vipers.
• Midget boys tier 1
Stettler Blues fell 4-3 to Sylvan Lake Lakers on March 20.
Reese Anheliger, Dylan McKay and Landon Potter replied for Stettler.
• Midget tier 3
Stettler edged Calmar Cobras 5-4 on March 21.
Jesse Bosma, Ryan Hallett, Mackenzie Rost, Lowen Cassidy and Braden Bowie scored for Stettler.