The Wilkie Outlaws' 2023 SWHL title adds to championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019, to extend the club's dynasty run. (submitted photo/Derek Keller)

By Martin Martinson

Senior Hockey Dynasty

Wilkie Outlaws clinch Sask West Hockey League championship

Mar 20, 2023 | 5:00 PM

For the fifth time in the last seven seasons, the Wilkie Outlaws head into the spring with champagne showers and a trophy in the team picture, as Sask West Hockey League champions.

The Outlaws topped the Macklin Mohawks 3-2 in sudden death overtime of Game 4 Sunday, to clinch the title in dramatic fashion and reign victorious in the teams’ best-of-five finals showdown.

Outlaws player/coach Derek Keller, who was named Most Valuable Defenceman for a seventh straight year at the end of the regular season, added his second Playoff MVP Award for his efforts on the team’s postseason run, culminating in the cup-clinching goal Sunday.

Derek Keller receives SWHL Playoff MVP honours. This marked Keller’s second career Playoff MVP, also winning back in 2015. (submitted photo/Derek Keller)

Picking up the puck from his own zone with open space ahead, Keller raced up ice late in the first overtime, gained the blue line, and ripped a slapper on-goal that found its way past the goaltender.

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“I wish I could tell you I had the top corner picked, but I just honestly was trying to make sure I got it on net,” Keller said with a laugh, first recalling the moment.

“Their goalie, [Kyle] Dumba had been playing fantastic, so I had to do a double take to make sure it went in, but it was a pretty cool moment and one I’ll remember for a long time, and even more importantly we got the win and that’s what it’s all about.”

Game 4 was the second of the series to be decided in extra time, following a Game 2 double-overtime win by the Outlaws as well, on a quick release by forward Rick Cey in front to give Wilkie a 2-0 series lead at the time.

Brock Harrison, who was the SWHL’s Top Scorer and Most Valuable Forward this season, added another 20 points (six goals, 14A) in nine games on Wilkie’s playoff run. He said the group’s ability to come out on top in tight games is thanks in large part to their experience, with a number of their players having spent more than a decade now in the league.

“We have quite a bit of experience on our team as I think we have nine guys over the age of 35, so we’re almost definitely the oldest senior hockey team in the province, but I think that experience helped us with those games,” he said.

Like Keller, Harrison also highlighted the play of Mohawks’ goalie Kyle Dumba, who was lights out throughout the series, facing 50-plus shots in three of the four games, and stopping 149 of 156 over those three games, headlined by a 53-save shutout in Macklin’s Game 3 win.

“We lost 2-0 in that third game, and I think it’s the first time we’ve been shutout, at least since I’ve been here since 2009,” Harrison said. “At the end of the day he was just such a big part of the series, so we have to give him a shout-out as well, as he played a [heck] of a series.”

The Outlaws’ Rick Cey, Andrew Herle, Will Rathje, and Ryne Keller, receive the SWHL championship trophy from league president Joe Cey. (submitted photo/Brock Harrison)

Another of the team’s veterans, Mike Sittler came out of temporary retirement last season to rejoin the team this fall, with whom he had been a part since its earliest days in 2006.

Sittler said he couldn’t have been happier to be a part of this year’s team and the journey they took to the pinnacle of the senior hockey ranks.

“It’s definitely one to remember,” Sittler said pausing for a moment’s reflection. “On the road, going into that final overtime it was back-and-forth hockey and with our player/coach Derek Keller getting the winner it was pretty sweet; it was a pretty good feeling for us.”

“Last year I took the year off, and I thought it was the right decision, but then kind of got the itch again this year. The guys were willing to welcome me back, and I’m sure glad they did, because it was a season to remember and it was a lot of fun again.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1