After finishing the regular season in first and winning the team's first ever league championship, the Cold Lake Ice suffered its first disappointing stretch of the season at the Junior B provincial championships this past weekend in Leduc.
Cold Lake lost its opening game 6-5 to the eventual tournament champion, the Blackfalds Wranglers. The Ice followed that up with a strong performance against the host team, the Leduc Riggers, but could only muster a 3-3 tie. In its final game, the Ice gave Whitecourt a good run but came up short, losing 5-3 to the Wolverines.
The Ice entered the tournament with high hopes and on a roll, winning 11 straight games in the playoffs.
But Cold Lake had a longer break before provincials began, after sweeping Lloydminster in the league championship series, while other championships went six and seven games. Head coach Paul Desjardins said the extended break and nerves played a large factor in the first game.
"We came out flat. It was a long trip there, the boys didn't get their legs. They were nervous. We became individuals out there and that's not the type of team we are and that's not how you win."
But he said the effort was there the entire tournament.
"We could have very easily won all three games. We were right there each game."
The Ice were never down by more than two goals in the tournament and Desjardins said several opposing coaches and fans complimented Cold Lake's effort and tough physical play in Leduc.
"The boys went there with the intentions of winning provincials and played like they wanted it. I think they represented our league really well."
But after losing only two games all season, losing two in one weekend was tough to take for the Ice.
"It's disappointing," said Desjardins. "I'm not disappointed in the boys, I'm disappointed in the results."
But several Ice players had solid individual performances at provincials.
The line of Matt Laboucane, Dallas Ansell and Niko Bourget kept up its hot play. Bourget and Ansell led the team in scoring during the regular season and in the playoffs. But it was Laboucane who stepped his game up at provincials.
Laboucane picked up two goals and three assists to lead the Ice in scoring at the tournament. Bourget posted two goals and two assists in the three games, while Ansell added three goals.
Former Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs player Denis Cadrin added four points in just two games in Leduc.
Now that the season has come to a close, Desjardins believes his team will be pleased with what they've accomplished.
"They're proud," he said. "They can walk with their heads high."
Players and coaches will now take a bit of time off to rest and enjoy the accomplishments of the season before getting back to work with training and scouting and other off-season duties.
