CANORA - The Canora Cobras opened their quest for a Sask East Hockey League championship with a decisive 10-4 win over the visiting Wapella Blackhawks in Game 1 of their opening round best-of-three series on Feb. 13.
Cobras Coach Darren Schwartz reminded his team that it’s playoff time and it’s important to not take anything for granted.
“They’ve got to be ready,” said Schwartz. “Wapella has their full lineup. Anything can happen, it’s a new season.”
Schwartz said the Cobras came out in the first period like they might have been thinking about the trip to Foam Lake the next day for the second-round provincial series.
“We started slow. We let Wapella stay in it. But then the they went ahead in the second period, and we turned it around.”
After the Cobras had a slim 1-0 lead after 20 minutes, the Blackhawks grabbed a 2-1 lead on a pair of early second period goals. But less than three minutes later, Carson Dennis of Melville tied it for the Cobras on a shot from the point.
“When they went ahead, I got a little excited with our guys, and they responded,” said Schwartz.
“Coming back with Carson, he’s an excellent defensive player but not known for offense. His goal sparked the lamp, everyone got excited and we took off from there.”
Even though the Cobras scored 10 goals, Schwartz said he wasn’t please that they gave up two late ones in the third period to the Blackhawks.
“I let them know about it, they need to play a full 60 minutes."
Vaughn Wilgosh of Canora had a big game for the Cobras with a hat trick.
“That might be the first hat trick by a defenseman since I’ve been with the Cobras, I hope he keeps it up,” said Schwartz.
Scott Mickoski of Regina and Logan Foster of Kamsack were not far behind with a pair of goals each for the winners. Brett Duczek of Grayson and Derrick Schwartz of Runnymede each contributed a goal and two assists for the balanced Cobras offense. Carson Dennis had the other goal and added an assist. Carter Dereniwsky of Canora and Cole Rathgeber of Yorkton excelled in the playmaking department with a pair of assists each.
The Cobras were scheduled to meet Foam Lake in Round 2 of provincials, with games in Foam Lake on Feb. 14, Canora on Feb. 17, and then back in Foam Lake on Feb. 21 if necessary in the best-of-three series..
“Against Foam Lake we’ve got to be ready to play,” said Schwartz. “They’re a very offensive team, we have to play the way we can. We can’t start the way we did against Wapella.”
Game 2 goes in Wapella on Saturday, Feb. 22.
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