Stettler Midget A won the Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL) championship by beating Red Deer 9-1 in the second game in the best-of-three series on Saturday, March 19 in Red Deer.
Although it wasn't Storm who got the scoreboard ticking first, the Stettler boys scored three goals in the first period alone to take the all-out assult to the opponents.
The author of the first goal was Erik Rost, assisted by Jordan Lee, followed by the second from Ethan Rost, assisted by Matthew Sylvester and the third goal was signed unassisted by Brendan Bardwell, who struck once again in the second period, assisted by Mark Bengert and Jordan Lee, and Sylvester scored Stettler's fifth goal assisted by Ethan Rost to put Stettler in a comfortable position at the end of the second period.
In the third period Stettler brought on an onslaught of another four goals from which Red Deer couldn't recover. Bardwell scored his third of the game assisted by Bengert and Paul Du Toit, followed by Sylvester assisted by Quade Cassidy, and the eight point coming from Ethan Rost, assisted by Sylvester. With only ten seconds left in the game, Kameron Bainbridge sealed the deal on an assist from Drew Cassidy.
"This was our first year that one of SMHA teams was in this league and our team only lost one game and tied another," said Neil McCallum, one of the assistant coaches. "The team played very well and all our coaches are most pleased that all our lines contributed offensively, our defence moved the puck well and were physical and our goaltending solid."
"We now get ready for provincials," said McCallum. "We had set this as our team's primary goal when the season started."
According to McCallum, the team has been focused on improving throughout the year and we think we are ready for the challenge.
"Our hope is that the community really comes out and supports our boys, because they are a group which always represents our community with class on and off the ice, and has been one of the closest teams I have ever coached," added McCallum.
Stettler plays Strathmore in their first game of the provincials on Thursday, March 24 at 6.30 p.m. and on Friday, March 25 faces Barrhead Steelers at 11.30 a.m.