Hockey fans from Canora and the surrounding area took advantage of the opportunity to watch hockey from five different age groups, including two novice games, during Canora Minor Hockey Day on January 26.
Dwayne Wolkowski, Canora Minor Hockey Association president, said it was a successful day, with good attendance at all games, as the community showed it’s support for all the minor hockey teams. He estimated the evening midget game between the Preeceville Pats and the Grenfell Spitfires drew approximately 200 spectators.
Wolkowski said he was pleased to see that there were no major injuries during the day, even though injuries occasionally happen during hockey games.
The day began with an IP game between the Canora Cobras and the visiting Preeceville Pats. Since this is the age group where the players are just starting in hockey, a barrier is installed and the game takes place on half of the ice surface.
During the game the horn sounds every three minutes and there is a complete line change, including the goalies. This allows the players to try different positions to find one they prefer.
The score is not formally kept during IP games, but in this contest the Canora and Preeceville teams proved to be evenly matched, with a number of goals scored at each end.
Canora has two novice teams this season, and both saw action on Minor Hockey Day.
The Canora Novice White Cobras played host to the Kamsack Novice Flyers 2. The Cobras scored an early goal. A few minutes later, Kamsack failed to capitalize on a breakaway opportunity, which could have tied the game. Canora seemed to gain momentum through the remainder of the first period and built a 7 to 2 lead. The Cobras continued to play hard the rest of the way and won by a score of 20 to 5.
The Canora Novice Black Cobras faced the visiting Yorkton Farrell Agency Terriers. Canora players gave a strong effort throughout the game, battling for pucks along the boards and all over the ice. But Yorkton proved to be a very strong opponent and skated to a decisive win.
The Canora Atom Cobras met up with the visiting Cote Atom Selects. The Cobras opened the scoring early, but Cote tied the game less than a minute later and it looked like fans were in for a tense, close contest. Then the Canora players found their scoring touch, and opened a 6 to 1 lead. At that point the Cobras were called for two consecutive penalties, and had to face a five-on- three shorthanded situation. It looked like Cote might make the game close again, but the Canora penalty killers were up to the challenge and prevented Cote from mounting any serious offensive threats. From there the Cobras went on to a convincing win.
In the peewee game, the Canora Cobras took to the ice against the visiting Kamsack Flyers. Early in the game Cobras had a number of opportunities in the Kamsack end, but the Flyers players forced multiple turnovers and capitalized on their opportunities. Near the end of the first period it was 4 to 0 in favour of Kamsack, and things were looking grim for the Cobras. But a late first period goal seemed to give Canora a badly needed boost of confidence. From that point on the Cobras players appeared to re-discover their scoring touch, while tightening up their game at the defensive end. Canora shut out Kamsack the rest of the way and skated to a well-earned 6 to 4 victory.
In the final game of Canora Minor Hockey Day, the Preeceville Midget Pats hosted the Grenfell Midget Spitfires. Colby Wolkowski of Canora is one of the Pats coaches, and the team’s roster includes seven players who began their hockey careers in Canora: Tyler Kopeck (captain), Maxwell Mydonick, Tyler Palchewich, Jessie Biletski, Jacob Danyluk, Derek Barteski and Grady Wolkowski.
Palchewich was the starting goalie for the Pats. He didn’t see a whole lot of action in the first period, as the Pats came out on the attack right from the opening faceoff, and were rewarded with the only goal of the period. Preeceville’s territorial edge in play showed in a 16 to 3 advantage in shots on goal after the opening 20 minutes.
In the second period the Pats continued to put pressure on Grenfell, which included a number of heavy hits. The period was scoreless, with a 17 to 8 advantage for the Pats in shots on goal.
In the third period the hard work of the Pats players paid off, and they were able to build on the lead. An unassisted goal by Wolkowski gave Preeceville some breathing room. A third goal by Danyluk pretty much sealed the deal, and the Pats skated to a 3 to 0 victory.
Palchewich stopped a total of 16 shots to record the shutout, while the Pats ended the evening with 43 shots on goal.
The Pats players from Canora said that it was exciting for them to play in their home town, and they hoped to have the opportunity to do it again.
