The Stettler Imperials have had quite the inaugural season.
Named after a Stettler team of the same name from the 1940s and 1950s, the 2021/2022 Stettler Imperials entered the East Central Senior Men’s Hockey League in September 2021 and played their home opener in November.
In the 12 games played during the season the team played .500 hockey, winning five games, dropping five games and losing two more in overtime.
Still, that record was enough to place them fourth in the standings of the seven team league.
When playoffs hit, the team really gelled, first dispatching the Delbourne Outlaws in the best-of-three series.
In the next round, the Imperials took on the league-leading Provost Combines, who boasted an 11 win and one loss record on the season, and sent them home for the season in four games in a best-of-five series.
Unfortunately, the Imperials have either run out of steam or met their match in the finals against the Irma Aces.
The Imperials are down two games in the best-of-five series with the Irma Aces holding home-ice advantage.
In the first two games, while out shooting the Aces, Stettler was downed 7-4 in both games.
Game three is set to take place in Irma on March 25.
If needed, game four will take place in Stettler on March 26 and game five will take place on March 27 in Irma.