The Tisdale Trojans salute the crowd after their 4-2 loss to the Regina Pat Canadians on Thursday in what is likely the last game for the foreseeable future in northeast Saskatchewan. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Last Game

‘It didn’t feel like a big time playoff game’: Trojans, Pat C’s play last game in northeast Sask for foreseeable future

Mar 13, 2020 | 11:55 AM

UPDATE: On Friday, the Trojans announced on Facebook that they were informed their season would be over “based on the COVID-19 virus outbreak as per Hockey Canada.”

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“It’s kind of an awkward feeling.”

That’s what Tisdale Trojans Head Coach Dennis Kubat had to say after his team played the Regina Pat Canadians on Thursday, March 12 in what looks be the last hockey game in northeast Saskatchewan for the foreseeable future.

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It was game two of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League’s (SMAAAHL) semifinal series with the Pat Canadians holding a 1-0 series lead. That was what was in the Trojans minds heading into the contest, but things changed as hours progressed. With the COVID-19 outbreak causing havoc across the world, Hockey Canada made an announcement just hours before puck drop at the Tisdale RecPlex, ultimately shutting the sport down across the country starting on Friday, March 13.

Kubat said preparing for a game like this was tough. It’s something he said he’s never seen or had to deal with before in hockey. Kubat said he wasn’t sure how the players were to prepare.

“It’s a mindset I guess,” he said. “It’s tough to prepare for a playoff game that way, even coaching, it just didn’t feel like a big time playoff game with everything going on.”

He added with the game likely being their last of the 2019/2020 season, Kubat wanted the players to treat it as such.

“Respect the crowd that came out,” Kubat told northeastNOW.

“Respect just being a Trojan and just leave it all out on the line and see what happens.” _{-Dennis Kubat}

The team is set to meet on Friday to get some more concrete answers on how to proceed, but Kubat said he really feels for the graduating players who may never play another midget hockey game.

“Some of our guys will never wear a Trojan uniform again,” he said. “So make sure you’re playing for them, they’ve sacrificed a lot over their even one year, two years, three years, just to end their midget career. Just play for them, play for the community that’s been absolutely amazing with the support every year.”

One of those players who was playing in their final midget season was Carrot River, Sask. native Mackenzie Carson. The hulking forward had a career regular season and continued it into the playoffs. Carson finished third in the league in goals in the regular season with 31, and was leading the Trojans in points in the playoffs with five goals and two assists. He said if it is his last game, it meant a lot for him to play for Tisdale and have two very good years to end his midget career.

He said they prepared like it was any other game, but with news surfacing throughout the day, uncertainty sunk in for Carson and his teammates. They thought it would likely be their last game of the season. He said whether there was another game coming, or that was it, they wanted to win either way. Carson said it still doesn’t seem real that things for his midget career could be over.

“I’m still kind of processing all of it,” Carson told northeastNOW. “Spending the last two years of my life here, it’s been my home. So, I’m going to need a few days to let it sink in for sure.”

Carson scored a goal in the Trojans 4-2 loss on Thursday and said while he’s played close to home, Tisdale has become home to him.

“Over the years, you get more involved and stuff like that, and you feel more comfortable,” he said.

“Eventually it just becomes your home and every night you’re playing for your hometown.” _{-Mackenzie Carson}

On the ice on Thursday for Tisdale, they held a 2-1 lead at one point in the second period, but the Pat C’s were able to tie it late in the second and then break free in the third. Kubat said his group was good in the first period, average in the second, and “below average” in the third.

“I thought we got worse as the game went one, which is unfortunate that way,” he said. “Difference all year, special teams, they score two, we don’t score any.”

Keagon Little put the Trojans on the board early in the first period, while Hunter Lolacher stopped 45 shots in the game as well.

Kubat said if this ultimately is the end of their season, it was a good first season for him and his staff.

“Our goal was to win our last game. I think that’s everyone’s goal every year,” he said. “But all in all, myself, [Daven Smith], Rob [Polon], Cole [Simpson], the whole organization, we learned a lot, lots of ups and downs. Been through adversity a lot, it’s going to make us as a coaching staff that much better for next year.”

Kubat said a break will be nice, but he’ll be excited very soon to get back into the office and prepare for next season.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6