For the first time in over a decade, the St. Paul Jr. B Canadiens have moved on past the first round in NEAJBHL playoffs, defeating the Vegreville Rangers in dominating fashion in game five, 13-1.
Much to the delight of the home crowd on Saturday night, the Canadiens started off scoring early in the game, with the first goal happening just before the one-minute mark, netted by Kyle Braybrook. The Canadiens would score three times in the first, with a goal by Ryley Wozniak and Zach Sylvestre, to lead 3-0.
“We have a team that is determined, focused and plays hard every time they step on the ice,” said Jr. B Canadiens’ president, and one of the team’s biggest fans, Lisa Davies, after the game wrapped up Saturday. She also offered kudos to the men on the bench, saying, “The coaching staff has done a remarkable job putting this team together.”
The second period was much of the same. Wozniak would get his second of the night, and Sylvestre would match that with his second goal. The Rangers would get a bit of offensive play going with a goal of their own, to bring the score to 5-1, but that would be it for the away team, as Tristan Craighead and Dyson Roy would round off the second period for the Canadiens with each a goal of their own.
“Obviously, we got off to the start we wanted . . . and we kept up the pressure,” says team captain Tanner Hellquist. He adds it was nice to be able to perform well in front of all the fans.
Heading in the third, the Rangers appeared to be tired and frustrated, and the Canadiens continued to take advantage of the situation.
Kona Jackson, Braydon Burak, Darrell Stranger, and the team’s captain Tanner Hellquilst would each net a goal, with Roy also scoring twice in the third, giving himself a hat trick on the night, and leaving the game with a final score of 13-1.
Going into game five against the Rangers, the team obviously wanted to finish the series off at home, says head coach Joe Young. But, he admits, no one ever really expects such a huge lead.
Roy would also have two assists to add to his name, leaving him with the most points on Friday night. According to the NEAJBHL Jr. B Hockey Stats website, Roy sits in ninth place on the league’s Scoring Leaders board this playoff season. He is the only St. Paul player in the top 10, as of early this week.
Stranger and Greeve would also be powerful forces, with three assists each.
Canadiens’ goalie Dave Rupp would stop 19 of the 20 shots taken on him, while Vegreville would switch up their goalies near the end of the second period. The Rangers saw a total of 70 shots on goal.
And although the team scored a lot of goals on Saturday, Young says the boys know “it won’t be easy moving forward.” The Canadiens will face the Killam Wheat Kings in the second round, a team that has often proven to be an even matchup against the Canadiens.
The series will start Friday and Saturday in Killam.
“After the first round, you just kind of want to decompress a bit,” says Young. The boys will get together this week for practice and work on a game plan for the weekend. The team also already knows it will be facing a very physical matchup against the Wheat Kings.
“We know every game is going to be physical for sure. That’s kind of their style of play. I think we showed that we can play that game as well,” says Young, adding, any mistakes will be critical.
“I think we just have to continue to play well,” says Hellquist, who acknowledges that from now on, “the games are going to get closer and more intense.”
But, the captain is confident his teammates can meet the challenge. He says the Canadiens have good leadership, and players who have won championships on the ice.
“I think we’re going to be successful if we just continue to do what we do.”
The Canadiens’ play on Saturday was certainly pleasing to the large crowd in attendance, which throughout the season, has been credited to having an impact on the Canadiens’ success.
“We want to thank the community, the fans and the volunteers for coming out every game and showing their support,” says Davies.
The support from the community is the best in the league, adds Young.
“People are obviously excited with how we’ve turned it around as an organization . . . I think you can see that by coming to the games,” says Young.
When asked who deserves the credit for the team’s turnaround over the past few years, Young’s response is simple – everyone.
“Obviously, one person can’t do it all,” says the coach, adding, it started a few years ago with a small group of people who wanted to turn things around and make the team somewhere athletes wanted to come play. The team, the coaching staff, and the board have all had a hand in the success of the team, says Young.
Hellquist is clearly a leader on the ice, but the young university student also excels in other aspects outside the arena.
Hellquist, a fourth-year civil engineering student at the University of Alberta and a past St. Paul Regional High School graduate, was notified that he would be receiving a $2,000 scholarship from the Government of Alberta. The Charles S. Noble Junior Hockey Scholarship recognizes and rewards “the tremendous time and effort” Hellquist has given to academics and athletics.
“It acknowledges outstanding accomplishments and encourages continued education,” according to a letter Hellquist received from Student Aid Alberta. The Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund and Alberta Junior Hockey League jointly fund the scholarship.
Hellquist says his studies have been going really well, and obviously there’s quiet a bit of work involved in playing hockey and being a student, but “I’m able to manage my time well.”
The Wainwright Bisons beat the Lloydminster Bandits in the first round, 4-0. While Killam beat the Frog Lake T-Birds 4-0, also.
Cold Lake Ice took on the Onion Lake Border Chiefs in the first round, and won 4-1. The Ice will now take on the Bisons in round two.
