Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter

Outlaws win fifth straight league championship

Mar 23, 2017 | 2:00 PM

For the third straight season, the Wilkie Outlaws are Sask. West Hockey League champions, but their title streak goes beyond just those three years.

Before joing the SWHL for the 2014-15 season, they won back-to-back North Sask River Hockey League titles, making last night’s win their fifth in a row.

“I think we have the most dedicated group in Saskatchewan and to me, five years in a row proves that,” Outlaws player and coach Derek Keller said. “You don’t get that by fluke. It takes a lot of hard work, takes a lot of dedication. That’s what the guys on our team have and they should be proud of that.”

The core of the team from that 2012-13 season, which was the first championship of the five, still remains and got to hoist the trophy again last night. About 10 to 12 players on the roster are the same.

“It’s hard to get on top but it’s even harder to stay there so I think it’s just a credit to the guys and the dedication they have,” Keller said. “They’ve put in a lot of work this year and that’s why you do it, right? Just that feeling of hoisting the trophy after a long season…makes it all worthwhile.”

The first two games of the best 3-of-5 series against Macklin were both 4-3 wins, but in game three they made a statement by blowing them out 6-0.

Keller thinks that has something to do with the team’s 8-2 loss in game one of their ‘A’ provincial final on Saturday.

“I think what happened last Saturday in Bethune, we had a little taste of realization and we got brought back down to earth a little bit,” he said. “I think the guys came out and played with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder and had something to prove. I liked what I saw. The guys played hard, we played more physical, we played our brand of hocke,y and we had a little bit of killer instinct.”

A quick start helped, as they were up 2-0 just 13 minutes in.

“We were being physical on the forecheck and it was causing them to turn pucks over and that’s really our strength,” Keller said. “When our forwards can get in and create disruption on the other team’s defence, that’s usually how we get a lot of our scoring chances. So we did a lot of that and also by using our speed we got some power plays and were able to capitalize. If we’re skating, we’re effective, and that’s what we were doing last night.”

In the end, six different players scored and 10 had at least a point.

Brock Harrison, who finished first in playoff scoring with 15 points, was named playoff MVP.

“I’m not sure who picks [MVP]… but they got it right,” Keller said. “He’s very well deserving. He’s had a really good playoff for us and in provincials as well. He’s one guy that has taken his game to another level so it’s good to see him get recognition for once.”

The focus for Wilkie must shift immediately, as game two of the best 2-of-3 provincial final against Bethune is Friday night.

The good news is it’s at home, and the timing works out well because it will be the grand opening of the lobby, which has taken the longest to fix after the fire to the arena in 2015.

There will be a social after the game in the lobby as well.

But for the team, the focus, at least for now, is on the ice with them facing elimination.

“They’re a really good team,” Keller said. “They’ve got a team full of guys that have played a really high level of hockey. Their ‘D’ core is very, very solid. It’s the best we’ve ever seen. I think when you play against more talented players like that, if you make mistakes, they’re going to make you pay for that.”

Keller also said 8-2 was not indicative of how game one went.

“It kind of got out of hand later on,” he said. “But that being said, they outplayed us and they were the better team that night for sure…I think we maybe showed them a little bit too much respect. They’re regarded as the top senior team in the province. They won ‘A’ last year so I think that maybe we went in there with a little bit too much respect.”

Just like against Macklin on Wednesday, the focus will be on using their speed to have an effective forecheck, but also, ramp up the physicality.

“I thought in Bethune, we were letting them dictate the play and they were taking the play to us a little bit,” Keller said. “They were getting the pucks in behind us and being physical with our ‘D’ and I think we need to shift the ice a little bit and start playing in their end a little bit more. Like I said, their ‘D’ is their strength so if we can get those guys a little bit worn out and get them maybe making some mistakes, that’s going to be a huge beneift to us.”

Puck drop for game two in Wilkie is 8:30 on Friday.

 

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

@NathanKanter11