CANORA - Starting on the last weekend in October, there will be all kinds of on-ice action at the Canora Civic Centre this winter.
The first Canora games will kick off the new season on Oct. 25 and 26 as the teams competing in the U18 tournament will take to the ice.
The six teams based in Canora for the upcoming season will include: U7, U9, U11, U15, U18 and U18 female, according to Stacy Vangen, Canora Minor Hockey Association President.
“We have approximately 100 players registered for hockey this year,” said Vangen. “These numbers have been consistent for about the past three years.”
In addition to the six Canora-based teams, Canora minor hockey players will also be playing on a number of other teams across the region, including: Kamsack, Preeceville, Yorkton AA, Sask East AA, and Parkland Phoenix AA (female).
In recent years, minor hockey groups from multiple area communities have often joined together to form teams where communities didn’t have enough players in that age group to form their own team.
Canora coaches confirmed so far for the coming season are:
- U7 - Dayne Babchishin
- U9 - Parker Rice
- U11 - Dustin Kortmeyer
- U15 - Graham Lamb
- U18 - Adam Vangen
- U18 female - Nicole Korpusik
“We are looking forward to watching players of all ages hit the ice in Canora,” said Vangen. “Be sure to check the town of Canora website for the ice schedule and watch our Facebook page for association updates
“Thank you to be everyone in Canora and area for continuing to support minor hockey in our community.”
There were many highlights last season, with one of the biggest being the post-season success of the Canora-based U15 Highway 9 Predators. The team had a roster made up of players from Canora, Norquay Preeceville, Sturgis, Kamsack and Buchanan.
The Preds began their playoff run with a first-round best of three sweep over Yorkton by scores of 2-1 and 9-5.
In the best of three second round series, the Preds faced Moosomin, and found success the hard way. Moosomin won Game 1 in Canora, before the Preds bounced back with an 11-5 victory in Moosomin in Game 2, to force the third and deciding game, which took place in Kamsack. In Game 3, the Preds once again scored early and often, resulting in an 11-6 win and a berth in the A Banner league final against the Langenburg Warriors.
After falling behind with a 4-2 loss in Game 1 at Canora, the Warriors bounced back with 6-3 and 8-1 wins on home ice to take the best of three series and the championship. But the Preds definitely had a season to remember.
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