Glaslyn North Stars' goalie, Jackson Pylypow and his team will face Meota in this year's SPHL Finals, an all-local showdown for senior hockey supremacy. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Best-of-seven begins

SPHL Finals kick off Wednesday in North Battleford

Mar 6, 2024 | 2:03 PM

The stage is set ahead of opening night of the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League (SPHL) Finals, as the Meota Combines will host the Glaslyn North Stars for Game 1 of the best-of-seven senior hockey championship series Wednesday night in North Battleford.

The Combines are coming off series wins over the Redberry Raiders (2-0 in the best-of-three) and Turtleford Tigers (3-1 in the best-of-five) on their way to the finals for a fourth time in the last five years, having taken home three of the last four league championships.

Veteran forward, Aaron Cadrin said that experience should only benefit the team in their return to senior hockey’s biggest stage Wednesday, for Game 1 at the Access Communications Centre.

“It was our goal at the start of the year to make the finals again, we knew it was attainable, and with our core of veterans we know exactly what it takes to win, and we’ve been here before,” he said. “We’re looking to use that experience and the new guys and the skill we brought in as well, to hopefully bring home another Cup.”

Meota won both games of the regular season series between the two sides, with 5-2 and 10-4 victories coming just a week apart in mid-to-late December. However, Glaslyn has added few high-profile additions since the teams last met, including the dynamic duo of Regan Yew and William Desjarlais from the St. Walburg Eagles of the Sask-Alta Hockey League.

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The pair currently sit first and second overall in playoff scoring heading into the finals series, as Yew leads all players with 21 points (13 goals, eight assists) in seven playoff games, while Desjarlais has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in five games.

The Combines counter Glaslyn’s firepower up front with a league-high 16 points from their blue line – led by Connor Neave’s six points to pace all defencemen – and another rockstar run between the pipes from 2023 Playoff MVP, Cam Taylor who has posted a league-best 2.20 goals against average.

The result is a series Cadrin said should make for a great matchup.

“We think they’ve got some pretty good top-end talent up front, but I think we still hold the edge in defence and goaltending, so it’s huge to have home ice advantage, and definitely with a best-of-seven the better team should win,” Cadrin said. “We’re hoping to get these first two games to start it off because that’s what home ice is for.”

The Glaslyn North Stars enter the finals coming off series wins over the Battlefords Beaver Blues (2-1) and top-seeded Neilburg Monarchs (3-1).

North Stars’ player/coach, BJ Carey said heading into the finals against another powerhouse team in Meota, his group will be looking to continue what’s made them successful all postseason.

“We just need to go out there and play our game,” Carey said. “Go out there and play for one another and play for the crest on our jersey. We all know our roles and we have lots of confidence with how we beat Neilburg, so going into the finals, we’re feeling good. We figured we had the right core last year [to contend] but we just fell short, so we feel this is our year and we’ve got the pickups we needed to be able to compete with and beat a Combines team that’s won three of the last four years.”

Game 1 at the Access Communications Centre Wednesday, will begin at 8:30 p.m.

The full SPHL Finals series schedule:

Game 1 – Wed. March 6 @ 8:30 p.m. in North Battleford

Game 2 – Sat. March 9 @ 8:00 p.m. in North Battleford

Game 3 – Sun. March 10 @ 8:00 p.m. in Spiritwood

Game 4 – Fri. March 15 @ 8:00 p.m. in Spiritwood or St. Walburg

Game 5 (if needed) – Sat. March 16 @ 8:00 p.m. in North Battleford

Game 6 (if needed) – Fri. March 22 @ 8:00 p.m. in Spiritwood or St. Walburg

Game 7 (if needed) – Sat. March 23 @ 8:00 p.m. in North Battleford

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1