The Radville Pee Wee Nationals capped off a successful season of hockey by winning the South East Minor Hockey League and Provincial “D” Pee Wee Championship. The team combined with 5 kids from Bengough as it was questionable there would be enough kids to form a team with Radville alone.
The Pee Wee team played 52 games all year losing only 2 games in a Saskatoon Tier II Tourney. The team finished at the top of their league play and as such were rewarded with a bye directly to the second round of league play offs. The Nationals defeated the Weyburn Kin Canucks in 2 games of a 3 game series with Beinfait as their next opponents. The Nationals beat Beinfait at home in the first game of the league final 18-5 and won the league championship in Beinfait with a 10-2 win.
Radville has won the Pee Wee division the last 3 years in a row. In December the coaches entered the team in the Pee Wee “D” Provincial draw with the expectation that the kids would go far in the provincial run. It was the first time for many of the players to compete in a provincial title run with the excitement and anticipation building. The Pee Wee Nationals proved worthy and provided fans at each rink with excellent hockey.
In the first round of provincials the team faced Gravelbourg. The Nationals beat Gravelbourg 6-1 in front of the home crowd. The team travelled to Gravelbourg to win the 2 game total point series 13-1. The second round the Nationals faced Kincaid in the 2 game total point series. The Nationals won the first game at home 13-5 and won the second game in Kincaid 10-1.
With much excitement building the team went on to the third round of provincials. They faced Southey and won the series with 12-1 and 10-5 scores.
The south final against Ponteix proved to be a terrific series and the fans at each rink with treated with fantastic hockey! Radville travelled to Ponteix for the first game with a hard fought 7-5 victory. Ponteix come out fierce in the second game but the Nationals proved once again the competitors they are with a 8-5 victory at home and off to the Provincial Final!
The Rec Centre was packed for the Provincial Final against Macklin and both teams did not disappoint. The Nationals beat Macklin 5-1 in the first game of the 2 game total point series. A bus full of eager players, coaches, parents and fans left Radville for the provincial final in Macklin with an overnight stop in Unity.
Upon arrival in Macklin the parents were no doubt more nervous that the players. The team come out fierce and scored a goal on the first shift of play to set the tempo for the game. The Radville Nationals won the final game 7-4.
Players and coaches for each team were presented with plaques to recognize their efforts. For the first time in 42 years Radville Minor Hockey was presented with a Provincial Championship Banner that will be proudly hung at the Rec Centre. It was a truly memorable hockey season that will be reminisced for years to come.
The Radville Pee Wee Nationals are as follows: Lee Galarneau, Levi DeBruyne, John Van De Sype, McKenzie Cherpin, Kirsten Perras, Douglas McPhee, Bostyn O’Byrne, Luke Kotz, Garrett Liebreich and Ty Stadnick all from Radville. Wyatt Hoimyr from Lake Alma, Travis Tiszauer from Minton and Alex Kesslering, Matthew Kesslering, Keith Hoffart, Austin McCann and Tyson Thue all from Bengough. The efforts of our Head Coach Robert Galarneau, Assistant Coaches Darryl Kesslering and Brian Kesslering as well as our Manager Marla McPhee, were all greatly appreciated.
