An overtime unassisted goal by local hockey product Cole Zimmerman gave the 100 Mile House Wranglers a 3-2 victory over the AGI Insurance Quakers and the right to hoist the Keystone Cup on April 17.
Now, the Wranglers are not only the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) champions and the British Columbia Junior B (Cyclone Taylor Cup) champions, but the boys from 100 Mile House also lassoed the Western Canada Championship (Keystone Cup).
Fans knew this third-year team was special, and now people as far away as Thunder Bay, Ont. and all through the West know these 22 lads, who have represented 100 Mile House so well with their respect and their community-mindedness, never give up and they will work hard every minute of every game.
Coach Dale Duner built a playoff team that had toughness, grit, determination and a large helping of a will to win – and they tore through the post season like a tsunami.
However, there was a little bit of nail biting when the Quakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period. They had defeated the Wranglers 6-4 the previous evening.
However, the Wranglers came back with two of their own.
Ryan Friesen, who was named the star of the game, found the back of the net at 19:44 of the second period, with the assist going to Zimmerman.
Zimmerman got the tying goal on a power play at 6:30 with the assists going to Michael Lynch and Brett Harris, another 100 Mile hockey product.
There was no scoring in the third period.
At 17:25 of overtime, Zimmerman dented the twine on a great unassisted goal, and it was time for our home-town heroes to throw their sticks, gloves and helmets and start a group celebration.
Zane Steeves was outstanding again between the pipes and recorded the victory by stopping 38 of 40 Quaker shots.
Read the details of championship game in the April 21 edition of the 100 Mile House Free Press.
Parade slated
There will be a parade for the Wranglers through downtown 100 Mile House, starting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday (April 19).
The parade starts at the back parking lot at Save-On-Foods, travels up Birch Avenue, turns left on Fourth Street, then turns left on Cedar Avenue and then turns left on Third Street to the 100 Mile Community Hall.
It will be followed by a tail-gate party at the community hall.
Save-On-Foods is sponsoring the tailgate party and there will be a barbecue.
There will be some Wranglers merchandise available at the event so fans can get the players to sign them.
There is also some talk about a skate being passed around for those who may want to donate.
Everyone is invited to come down and cheer on our home-town heroes.
Assistance sought
The Wranglers have a GoFundMe account online in an effort to get help with the cost of having the Wranglers playing in the Keystone Cup.
They’re looking at a $29,000 bill to be challenging for the Western Canada Championship, so any financial help would be appreciated.
If you can help, go to https://www.gofundme.com/pjzaqsrw?utm_source+internal&utm_medium=email&utm_content=cta_button&utm_campaign=upd_n and donate what you can to help the Wranglers on this magical ride in the post season.
