A ceremonial puck drop is held at the first-ever game for the Willow Cree Chiefs. (Willow Cree Chiefs/Facebook)

By Derek Craddock

IN THE HUNT

Willow Cree finishes with best record as playoffs begin for the TRHL

Feb 3, 2023 | 8:00 AM

The regular season is done and now it’s time to see who will come out as the best team in the Twin Rivers Hockey League (TRHL).

Playoffs for the TRHL begin Friday as the top four in each division square off in a best-of-three first-round series.

The Willow Cree Chiefs finished the year with the best record in the league, in its first season in Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation. The team was previously in Warman.

When looking ahead to their first playoff game in the community, head coach Taylor Watts said it’s a clean slate and they’re looking forward to it.

“Playoffs are a new season so we’re going to take it as it comes. We’re pretty excited to finish the regular season the way did and keep building on that.”

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The Chiefs finished the season with a 15-1 record with player Trent Campbell leading the team and league in scoring with 45 points. Both goaltenders also finished atop the leaderboard for goalie stats in the TRHL.

READ MORE: New places and familiar faces highlight new season for Twin Rivers Hockey League

While the Chiefs had the best record in the league, the Birch Hills Blackhawks enter the playoffs as the defending champion.

Captain Tyler Tilford said despite some injuries this past season, they still managed to come together to post the best record in the East Division.

“I think we have enough depth to work through that and have a chance to, hopefully, repeat as champions. It’s going to be hard, there’s a lot of good teams this year.”

One of those good teams is their rivals, the Kinistino Tigers which entered the league this year after competing in the Wheatland Hockey League.

Tilford said having that rivalry was a highlight of their season.

“We haven’t played them for years and having them in the same league was awesome. Both rinks were packed for both games. The series ended with goalie fights at the end of the game.”

Despite both finishing the year with 22 points in the standings, the Blackhawks got the edge over Kinistino in their head-to-head series.

Birch Hills will play Hanley in the first round while the Tigers take on the Allan Flames.

Back in Beardy’s & Okemasis, Watts and the entire community can’t wait for playoff hockey to return to the area after a tremendous season.

“The regular season was unbelievable. When you fill that arena on a Friday night and then turn around and do it again on a Saturday night, back-to-back nights, it’s a pretty surreal feeling.”

The Willow Cree Chiefs play the Waldheim Warriors in the first round while the Rosthern Wheatkings battle the Dalmeny Sabres.

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Derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock