Crossroads staff
The Kindersley Red Lions bowed out to the Wilkie Outlaws in three straight games in the Sask. West Hockey League finals.
The Red Lions lost 10-2 in Wilkie in Game 3 of the best-of-five series played Friday night to close out the series.
This makes it four league titles in a row for the Outlaws.
“We were missing some of our big guns, a lot of guys had to work and others were injured like Cody Hobbs and Shayne Neigum,” said coach Wayne Samson. “The guys we had fought hard and went down swinging that’s for sure.”
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Samson said that at the end of the game, the team had just two players left on the bench, besides the players on the ice.
“At the end of the day, you take the players that we had out, it would have been very tough to get a win in Wilkie. They are a good team and they had a full squad,” he added. “We’re not using it as an excuse, but that is just the way it is.”
He said the back-breaker in this game came in the opening period. The Outlaws were up 2-1 and the Red Lions went on a five-minute power play, however, Wilkie was able to score shorthanded which turned the tide.
Looking back on the season, Samson said that he was proud of the team.
“I heard some horror stories when I took over, but I had no problem at all,” said Samson. “These guys are as professional as they come. They have that no-quit attitude.
“We also had some great leadership which was second to none,” he said. “Jonny Calkins was a great captain, probably the best in the league on and off the ice. He had the respect of the players all the way through.”
Samson said that he would like to thank the community for their support once again and says that he is looking forward to next year.
The Red Lions finished third in the league this season with a record of 11-7-2 for 24 points, just one point back of the Macklin Mohawks.
The Red Lions defeated the Macklin Mohawks in two straight games in their opening round of the playoffs. In their second round, they won three straight games to come back from a 2-0 deficit against the Mohawks.
In the finals, against the Outlaws, they lost 6-3, 3-2 in overtime and 10-2 in game three.
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