The season is over for the Parkland Rangers.
The U18 squad fell in three straight games to the league-leading Brandon Wheat Kings in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League semifinals.
The Rangers got off to a great start in game two, Friday in Dauphin, opening the scoring just 27 seconds in. By the time the first period was over, Parkland held a 3-0 lead.
The Wheat Kings showed why they were the best team in the league all season, though, erasing that deficit and carrying a 4-3 lead into the third period where they added three more to skate away with a 7-3 win.
Brandon sealed the series victory with a 7-0 win, Sunday in Brandon.
Rangers coach Tyler Carefoot said in game two, his team wanted to give Brandon a taste of how they played against Yellowhead in the quarterfinals.
“And I thought in that first period we did that and more. I thought we were fast. I thought we had lots of energy. I thought we were physical. To put three up on them after one, we were pretty excited,” he said. “But at the same time, we reminded the fellas that their coach was likely peeling the paint. So we knew they were going to come out just as hungry.”
Two of Brandon’s goals in the second period came shorthanded, which Carefoot said deflated the Rangers.
“They’re just a prolific team. Any turnover is arguably a first-class scoring opportunity, so you can’t turn over the puck as much as we did in those three games,” he added.
Being swept in the semifinals, Carefoot said, does not take away what the Rangers accomplished over the course of the season.
“This is the group of kids that put pride back into the jersey. So for that, I’m very proud of them,” he said.
The Rangers came within three wins of playing for a league championship, something no one could have foreseen at the start of the season.
“As the season went on, you recognize that we do have a pretty good group here and our goal changed. We thought at one point we wanted to finish in the top four and we were very close to that,” Carefoot said, adding Parkland beat every team with the exception of the Eastman Selects. “But in saying that, we also laid a few eggs. But that’s just how seasons go. I can’t say enough about the fellas, because this is the group that make players want to be Parkland Rangers and I’m very proud of that.”
Seven players are graduating from the program. Marco Bodnarski, Matthew Munro, Cohen Smigelsky, Rylan Gibbs, Jayce Legaarden, Parker Boguski and Brenden Birch-Hayden all saw their U18 careers come to an end.
“I think all of them are going to have an opportunity to play junior. Whether they’re impact players right off the start time will tell. But I think all of them are going to be given every opportunity to play at the next level,” Carefoot said. “They’re all just great individuals. Some of them I’ve coached for a long time. (Sunday) was a little emotional. It’s the last time that I’m going to be coaching these guys and I’ve coached against the guys from Swan for many years. We were all a little emotional after the loss (Sunday), but we just reminded them that they’re the reason that young guys want to be Parkland Rangers. So for that, they’ve got to keep their heads up.”
