Lac la Hache Tomahawks and Quesnel Kangaroos put on a great show for hockey fans Saturday night in Lac la Hache in their first of a three-game playoff series. Crowds in the stands were wild with excitement and shows of support, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to keep the Hawks ahead of the Roos.
Quesnel ended up winning 4-3, with their deciding goal scored in the final three minutes of the game.
The teams were neck-and-neck and deadlocked 1-1 at the end of the first period.
Early in the second, the Hawks were able to pull ahead to a brief 3-1 lead. A couple of Roos goals had it knotted at threes by the end of the stanza, and the score held until the three-minute mark of the third.
Tomahawks coach Al Navrot says his team played well, but they’re capable of better.
“Quesnel crashes the net and plays a real rough style of hockey and do what they have to do. They don’t shy away from anything.
“They’re a hard-working team and you’ve got to admire them.”
Don Nicholas was good for two of the Tomahawk goals and Wade Balbirnie pitched in with one.
“Wade’s a good leader for us. He’s 38 years old and he plays like he’s 28,” says Navrot.
He notes the Hawks will make a few adjustments for next weekend when the series moves to Quesnel and that he’s counting on goalie Willy Sellars.
“Willy played a great game on Saturday and made lots of saves. I have lots of respect for him and he’ll be strong again for the next game.”
The former coach of the Williams Lake Stampeders says he’s had a lot of fun this season, working with his new team.
“I think we pulled off a miracle. We’ve had people behind us from Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and the First Nations bands. This team has brought lots of different cultures together and it’s pretty neat.”
Navrot says he has his sights set on pushing ahead for a chance to play for the ultimate Central Interior Hockey League prize, the Coy Cup.
“I’ve been after the Coy Cup for many years – as a player and as a coach. I’m grateful for the opportunity again and I don’t want to let it slip away.”
The Tomahawks play Feb. 4 in Quesnel and must win that game to advance any further in the series.
In other playoff action last weekend, Houston Luckies downed the Stampeders 6-3 on home ice, Terrace River Kings edged out Kitimat Ice Demons 5-4, and Smithers Steelheads took out Prince Rupert Rampage 8-1.
