PREECEVILLE - The Canora Cobras senior hockey team made the short trip to Preeceville on Nov. 11 to open their 2023/24 Sask East Hockey League season against the expansion Pats, in what was the Preeceville home opener.
The Cobras roared out to a 4-0 lead before the first period was half over, and cruised to a dominating 13-0 win. Cobras goalie Rylan Palchewich of Canora made 14 saves for the shutout.
Canora Head Coach Darren Schwartz said, after a series of spirited pre-season practices and with a number of new players on the roster, “the boys were ready to play.
“The game was closer than the score indicated,” reported Schwartz. “We had about 70 shots and missed the net on many more. We played well defensively, only allowing the 14 shots.
“The Pats are a young expansion team and they’re going to have some growing pains, but I think their future looks good.”
Four players led the well-balanced Cobras offense with a pair of goals each: Tanner Kopeck and Kody Rock of Canora, and Conner Chaulk and Logan Foster of Regina. Foster is originally from Kamsack, and added three assists to lead Canora with a total of five points on the evening. Scott Mickoski of Regina was the top playmaker with four assists. The Cobras power play ran at 40 per cent efficiency, with four goals in 10 opportunities.
The Cobras roster for the new season includes: Rylan Palchewich, Durban Hleboff, Kody Rock, Matthew Wilgosh, Vaughn Wilgosh, Casey Mydonick, Ryley Stefanyshyn, Tanner Denesowych, Grady Wolkowski, Tyler Ostoforoff, Tanner Kopeck, Jacob Gulka, Tomas Hauber, William Hauber, Logan Wolkowski and Maximillin Flaherty of Canora; Blake Foster of Kamsack; Carson Dennis of Melville, Skyler Hladun of Langenburg: Cody Dubas of Invermay, Austin Severson of Norquay; Cole Rathgeber and Tanner Mak of Yorkton, and Scott Mickoski, Conner Chaulk and Logan Foster of Regina.
Coach Schwartz said the biggest thing the Cobras need to improve upon going forward is hitting the net with their shots. The next game is the home opener against the Swan Valley Axemen on Saturday, Nov. 18.
“They knocked us out in the playoffs last year in the third and deciding game of the first round series. That should be in the back of our minds. We need to show them we’re ready to play them,” said Schwartz.
“With the addition of several new players we’ve got an exciting team this year, we hope everyone comes out on Saturday to watch some entertaining hockey.”
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