The 2015-16 season came to an end for the St. Paul Canadiens last Thursday night after the Killam Wheat Kings knocked the Canadiens out of playoffs in overtime at home on Thursday night, 3-2.
But while there were some disappointed faces in the dressing room following the game, many people with the team noted they took pride in the overall season, which head coach Joe Young described as “nothing but positive.”
“Where we started a few years ago, and now we’ve been to the second round, I think that’s a good accomplishment,” said Young, who has been among the many forces that have changed the direction of the team over the last few years.
Killam swept the Canadiens in four games in round two of this year’s NEAJBHL playoffs, but two of those games went to overtime, making for some exciting hockey.
Young says it was nice to be able to experience going to the second round of playoffs with players that he has been coaching for a number of years.
“I thought tonight we played a great hockey game,” he said of Thursday night’s game, where the Canadiens worked hard to get back into the series, down three games to none. “We had a little bad luck around the net, but I think it shows the character we have in the room . . . the guys worked hard the whole game.”
Killam was first to strike with a goal in the first period, and on the scoreboard, the game was close throughout all three periods. But when looking at shots on goal, the Canadiens were clearly ahead.
“We outplayed them, we deserved a better fate,” says Young. By the end of the game, the Canadiens had taken 50 shots on goal, while Killam took 32 shots. Killam’s goalie kept his team in the game with some impressive saves throughout the night.
“I think as a coaching staff, we’re extremely proud of everybody, and the class that we showed . . . Character and class is what we have in the room, unlike who we played tonight,” said Young, after the game. “When you look back, you always want to do something different, right? But it is what it is.”
Young later added, “Even though we lost, we lost with passion.”
Thursday night’s game marked the last Jr. B game for at least four players on the St. Paul Canadiens team – including team captain Tanner Hellquist, Jalel Abougouche, Jamie Wozniak, and goalie Jared Lafond, who will be too old to play next season.
“Those guys have been here since I’ve been here. They started this with me, and it was nice to see them go through with their four years,” says Young. “They worked extremely hard.”
Young says the team has a good core to build around for the next season. As St. Paul is hosting Jr. B provincials next year, the organization will want to have a strong team, ready to compete.
When asked if he will continue to lead the way with the Canadiens for another season, Young said, “Absolutely.” The rest of the coaching staff is also expected to return in 2016-17.
In his time with the Canadiens, hometown player and assistant captain Ryley Wozniak says he’s noticed a change, not only in how the team performs and competes, but how the community has become involved.
“It’s nice to see that we’re moving on and the fans are behind us. Next year, we’re hosting (provincials) and hopefully we come back as a stronger and faster team next year,” he says, adding he plans on coming back to play with the team next season.
“I would just like to thank the fans this year for the support. We went from having 10 fans to 500 now, in less than two years.”
And for Young, it’s not just about the time spent on the ice, or the fans in the stands, but the relationships that have been built between the players.
“When you walk in the (dressing) room, they’re shaking each other’s hands, they’re hugging each other. To me, that shows how tight they are, how good of a group they are. I would take players like that anytime on my team.”
Awards
Two St. Paul Canadiens’ players were given awards at Tuesday night’s game against Killam. Wozniak was the only St. Paul Canadien named as a team all star this season, which are teams made up of a selection of the top players in the NEAJBHL.
The first team all stars were: goalie Luke Grassl (Killam); defencemen Cody Bird (Wainwright) and Robin Yew (Onion Lake); and forwards Clay Lang (Killam), Regan Yew (Onion Lake), and Ryley Wozniak (St. Paul).
“It’s just been a good year for me, and the team. We had a lot of guys that produced good and made me look good too,” said Wozniak. “It was nice to be recognized by the league.”
He added that there were a number of players on the St. Paul team that were equally deserving of being named as all stars.
Also receiving a league award was Kyle Braybrook, who got the coveted Rookie of the Year title. Braybrook came to St. Paul on the advice of long-time friend Bailey Lonsberry, who comes from the same area in Manitoba as Braybrook.
Coming from outside the area, Braybrook says the St. Paul team always made him feel welcome. However, he said he was surprised to receive an award for his play.
“There’s a lot of good, deserving guys in the league that could have got it,” he said, adding, “Shout out to #17 Zach Sylvestre and #14 Ryan Rancier, my line mates, they made me look a lot better than I am.”
