CANORA - “It’s Canora. It’s Cote. It’s Game 1 of the playoffs!”
Voice of the Cobras Pat Miechkota pumped up the energy level in the building as the Canora Cobras hosted the Cote Selects on Feb. 9 and skated away with a 13-2 win. While the score indicated a dominant effort by the home team, Coach Darren Scwartz was not pleased with how the Cobras started the game, as the puck rarely came out of their end in the first four-and-a-half minutes.
“We came out slow, but fortunately Cote didn’t score,” said Schwartz. “If they had had their way, we would have been behind before we even knew what happened. Rylan Palchewich made about five big saves for us, and then we went down to the other end and got a big goal from Tanner Mak on our first chance.”
That goal seemed to turn the game around completely as the Cobras scored four goals on their first four shots. A goalie change for Cote did not seem to do much to stem the tide, as the Cobras build a 7-0 lead by the first intermission.
“Tanner’s goal was huge for us,” said Schwartz. “We were on our heels before that, but that goal got us going and took away their momentum.”
The Selects broke the shutout in the second period, but the Cobras added six more goals in the final 40 minutes for the final score of 13-2.
“Our top line had a lot of points tonight, but all four of our lines helped out in a big way to get us this win,” said Schwartz.
Kody Rock of Canora led the Cobras attack with three goals and an assist. Linemates Scott Mickoski and Troy Zulyniak were also key contributors; Zulyniak scored once and had three assists, while Mickoski also contributed three helpers.
Tanner Mak scored the all-important first goal of the game for the Cobras and added two assists.
Ryley Stefanyshyn of Canora and Skyler Hladun each added a pair of goals for the winners. Single markers came off the sticks of Vaughn Wilgosh, Tomas Hauber and Tanner Kopeck of Canora and Logan Foster.
Game 2 goes Thursday, Feb. 15 at the Cote Memorial Arena, where the Cobras will have the opportunity to close out the series and move on to the second round of the playoffs.
“To win that game, we’ve got to be smart and play our game,” said Schwartz. “Unlike Game 1, we have to be ready to play right from the start. We have a chance to close them out and we’ve got to do it. You never know what could happen if there is a Game 3.”
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