The Neilburg Monarchs beat the Meota Combines 5-2 in the final game of the series to win the SPHL Championship (Neilburg Monarchs/Facebook).

By Austin Mattes

Senior Hockey

Neilburg wins first SPHL title over defending league champions

Mar 18, 2025 | 1:09 PM

For the first time since 2019, the Sask. Prairie Hockey League (SPHL) saw someone else raise the trophy this past Sunday as the Neilburg Monarchs beat the four-time defending champions, Meota Combines in the final game of the series to win their first ever league title.

Monarchs Assistant Coach Shawn Hein said it was a special moment not only for the team but for the community too.

“It was such a great experience being in that rink and to finally bring that one home. It was a huge celebration for the entire community, especially with small town hockey in Neilburg, we have a lot of ups and downs, so it’s a great feather in the cap for the guys that have been here through the lean years and for the community too for supporting us through all of it,” he said.

The series started off with the Combines taking game one in a 5-4 overtime thriller back on Feb. 28, but the Monarchs answered back in games two and three on the following weekend, winning 12-4 and 4-0 to take the series lead. Then this past Saturday in game four, the defending champions responded, winning 3-1 on home ice to tie the series and force a final game.

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In the fifth and final game, the Monarchs opened up the scoring in the first period with just 6:35 left on the clock, coming from Arlee Walde to go up 1-0. For the second period, the Monarchs continued to put on the pressure, scoring two more goals from Tyler Musgrave and Reed Putnam to take a 3-0 lead going into the third.

Coming out for third though, the Combines finally found some momentum, scoring back-to-back goals from Dylan Esau and Brody Tachell to make it a 3-2 game. However, that just wasn’t enough as the Monarchs found the back of the net two more times, coming from Tegan Peters and Arlee Walde to take the game 5-2 and win the title on home ice.

Going into the big match, the biggest difference for the Monarchs from the game prior was their mentality, said Hein.

“We played one of our worst games of the entire year on Saturday and I think we were gripping the sticks a little tight, we put a little too much pressure on ourselves and expectation. So, on Sunday, I feel like the weight of the world was off everybody’s shoulders and pressure was off and we played a little bit looser and had some fun on Sunday and that’s where you see the end result,” Hein said.

Hein added it was also the solid play from their captain, Arlee Walde, that helped spark the team to success.

“We had a heck of a good game from our captain. He kind of just willed us through in the first period and a half, all three goals came from that same line. They started the game, they set the tone for us and getting the first goal really took the pressure off,” said Hein.

Following the game, Monarchs goaltender, Bella McKee was awarded the SPHL Playoff Most Valuable Player. Through 11 games in the post season, she held a 2.41 goals against average, .916 save percentage while boasting an 8-2 record, including one shutout.

Bella McKee receiving the SPHL Playoff MVP Award following the championship win (Neilburg Monarchs/Facebook).

“She is so steady, so technically sound and she’s been a rock for us all year. I don’t see anybody that we play against that performs better than she does,” Hein said.

This title for Neilburg marks the first championship for the town in 33 years with the last one coming in 1992 when the Monarchs beat the Paradise Valley Jets in the Sask Alta. Senior Hockey League final.

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Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes