After a season of ups and downs, the Cold Lake Jr. B Ice has once again proven they have what it takes to be the best team in the NEAJBHL. The Ice walked away with a fifth-straight championship after winning Game 6 of the final series against the Wainwright Bisons Friday night.
A remarkable turnout of 1,200 fans came out to Imperial Oil Place to see the Ice hoist the cup, a two-year record for attendance. Going against their typical games, the Ice got their momentum going early on with Holden Daley notching the first goal of the game.
Heading into the second frame, the pressure was on the four-time defending league champions. While able to hold off any Bisons' goals, the Ice was unable to further their lead keeping the score at 1-0 through to the end of the period.
It wasn't long into the final period when the Ice stepped up their game. Less than two minutes in, forward Connor Fynn found the back of the net bringing back the team's momentum. Shortly after at the 7:18 mark, Mike Harbich followed his lead firing the puck past Bisons net minder Cade Spencer and bringing the score to 3-0 for the Ice.
Only a minute later, Wainwright finally got themselves on the board thanks to a goal from defenceman Cody Bird. Just over 13 minutes into the final frame, the Bisons continued their fight for a Game 6 win. Bird once again sneaked the puck past Ice goalie Bolton Pouliot closing the gap to 3-2.
Despite giving up two goals to Wainwright, Ice head coach Paul Desjardins said they were confident in Pouliot's goal tending ability.
“You have to win your home games, coming back here we felt comfortable. We dropped a little bit, they made it 3-2 but Pouliot raised his game from that moment on…that's a Western Hockey League goaltender right there, that's the difference.
With a championship on the line, the Ice fought hard to keep their one goal lead. In the final minute of the game, Harbich fired the puck in the net for his second goal of the night, securing Cold Lake's victory. Wainwright made one last feeble attempt at tying things up, pulling their goalie in the last 20 seconds. But it was too little too late. The Cold Lake Ice won their fifth straight championship in front of their home fans with a final score of 4-2.
Desjardins said the team's veteran players really stepped up to the plate in what ended up being the final game of the year.
“All in all our top line, our veterans line of Tanner Corbeil, Chad Schultheiss and Connor Fynn, they went out there and they answered the bell. That was our physical line.”
After a season filled with controversy both players and coaching staff felt the extra weight of proving to the community that the team, who many counted out early on in the playoffs, still has what it takes to continue the championship run.
“I think if the team wouldn't had been successful, people would've started looking at us. For me it was big to win for that reason,” said Ice assistant coach Kevin Krooks. “Also, to keep the five in a row going and for those kids in there, they deserve it.”
Desjardins added, “We all know they've accomplished a miracle because nobody gave us a chance to win this series.”
Ice captain Chad Schultheiss has been through the all the highs and lows that this season has brought to the Cold Lake team. He said it was a proud moment for him winning the championship and seeing the look on the players' faces.
“She was a roller coaster ride, but I thought we came together as a team and we found what we needed to find to get that fifth championship.”
Prior to Saturday night's game Pouliot, who joined the Ice as their starting goaltender at the beginning of the final series against Wainwright, had yet to win a playoff championship in his five-season span as a WHL goaltender.
“I thought the guys played really well…blocking shots and getting pucks in deep and that was the key to our success,” noted Pouliot.
He added, “It was pretty exciting. We've got a good group of guys in there so hopefully we can carry it on to provincials and eventually the Keystone.”
As fifth straight league champions, the Cold Lake Ice will now look to take on the daunting tournament that is the Alberta Jr. B Provincials.
“We wanted to win the championship, so we went out there and dealt with it. So now we're going to give it our best and go out there and win provincials,” said Desjardins. “It's never been done so that gives them something to work for.”
Alberta Jr. B provincials are being held in Stony Plain this year. The Ice will compete in their first game on Apr. 2 at 4 p.m. against the Peace River Navigators. Game 2 is taking place Apr. 3 at 4 p.m. versus the Stony Plain Flyers and Game 3 comes the following morning at 9 a.m. against the Blackfalds Wranglers.
