A rivalry between two Lac La Biche bantam hockey teams came to an end Monday night. It was the fourth time the Edcon Power Tongs and Kingdom Cats Clippers have faced-off against each other, but this time for all the marbles.
A rivalry between two Lac La Biche bantam hockey teams came to an end Monday night. It was the fourth time the Edcon Power Tongs and Kingdom Cats Clippers have faced-off against each other, but this time for all the marbles. The outcome of the game determined who would go on to the tier III banner playoffs.
Going into the game, the teams’ record against each other was a win apiece and a tie. With the Kingdom Cats higher in the standings, they needed a win or at least a tie to continue on, with Edcon having no option but to beat their hometown rivals. The game ended in a 5-5 tie, a unique situation where neither team lost their final game but still ended Edcon’ s season.
Kingdom Cats coach Brad Bow said both teams played a great game and the tie proves how evenly matched they are.
“It just means it was a close set of teams,” he said. “But we needed at least a tie or a win and we got the tie.”
Bow said while the two teams had been rivals all season, it had been a really good year.
Edcon coach Michel Turgeon said his team was disappointed with the tie but knew they gave it their best effort. Regardless of the outcome, Turgeon said he was proud of his team, particularly their improvement over the year.
“It ended in a tie game, we didn’ t lose, unfortunately we needed a win” said Turgeon. “They worked hard, I’ m very proud of them and they improved over the year because of their hard work.”
Turgeon also praised his team’ s conduct and sportsmanship in the face of a disappointing outcome.
“I’ m proud of how they conducted themselves during and after the game,” he said. “I’ ve tried to teach them sportsmanship is first, and they took it to heart.”
With Edcon out, only one game remains in the regular season for the Kingdom Cats, which is against the Lloydminster Emerald. Afterwards, the team will enter into the zone finals with the hope of eventually moving on to provincials.
But Bow is not getting too far ahead of himself and he said their only strategy going forward is hard work.
“We’ re just taking it one game at a time,” he said. “Every game is a new game.”
The Kingdom Cats’ next game is against the Lloydminster Emerald Saturday, Feb. 18 in Lloydminster.
