Playoff dates are now set… Wild week of upsets… Logjam for the final four playoff spots…
BY Jonathan Huntington
SASKATOON – The playoff battle to win the national championship will start with the SMAAAHL quarter-finals on Feb. 28th.
With six weeks remaining in the regular season, dates for all playoff rounds were set this weekend:
- Round 1 (quarterfinals) features the top eight teams in the league (1v8; 2v7; 3v6; 4v5)
- Feb. 28 to March 8
- Best of five series
- Round 2 (semifinals)
- March 10-18
- Best of five series
- Round 3 (Championship Final)
- March 20-28
- Best of five series
The Telus Cup West is already set for Regina from April 2-5, meaning two teams from the SMAAAHL will qualify for the regional tournament, with the winner advancing to the Telus Cup national tourney in Peterborough from April 20-26.
WILD WEEK: The Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors came into the weekend with only three defeats (two in regulation and one in OT) in 28 regular-season games. But in the span of less than 24 hours, the #1-ranked team in the SMAAAHL lost twice to the seventh-place Tisdale Trojans – both games ending in a shoot-out.
“Great goaltending and our compete level is starting to get better,” said Tisdale head coach Wes Rudy, when asked for the biggest factors that led to the victories. “And (we’re) starting to get some more chemistry and depth scoring.”
Tisdale isn’t the only giant-slayer of the week, though, as the Estevan Innovex Bears turned heads throughout the league on Wednesday night by defeating the Regina Pat Canadians 7-4. The Pat Cs were one-week removed from being ranked the #1 team on the A-side of the playoff pool at the Circle K Classic in Calgary.
Estevan’s victory marked only the second time Regina has lost in regulation time this year. “It definitely took all 20 guys pulling on the rope,” said Estevan head coach Ryan Pilon while recalling Wednesday’s victory.
It’s interesting to note that Estevan and Tisdale have started January with big victories after playing in the Saskatchewan Hockey Classic during the holidays in Saskatoon. Both Rudy and Pilon credit the tournament for part of their success to start this month.
“Absolutely we do,” continued Pilon. “Just being together in the hotel and having that team chemistry was huge. And on the ice (during the tournament) being able to work on systems and staying sharp heading into this playoff push.”
Added Rudy: “(The tournament) really helped to get more chemistry and get more ice time to players to help them develop and get some confidence in their game.”
FINISH LINES: The Saskatoon Blazers – the champs of the first-ever Saskatchewan Hockey Classic – have also started January on the right foot, winning two of three games this week to move within two points of the third-place Swift Current Legionnaires… Just nine points separate fifth place to 10th place in the standings, with only four playoff spots available. In order from fifth to 10th place (with games remaining noted):
- Estevan 35 points (14 games remaining)
- Warman 33 (16)
- Tisdale 31 (12)
- Battlefords 28 (16)
- Saskatoon Contacts 26 (16)
- Prince Albert 26 (15)
