The Bow Valley Timberwolves continue to impress in South Central Alberta Bantam AA Hockey League play.
After charging down the stretch, going undefeated (8-0-1) in their final nine regular-season games, the Timberwolves defeated Brooks and Strathmore in Hockey Alberta Zone 6 Major Bantam AA provincial playdowns to earn a berth at the provincial tournament scheduled March 12-15 in Sherwood Park.
Most recently, the Cochrane-based bantams dispatched Red Deer Ramada from SCAHL playoffs with a gritty 2-1 overtime win in the deciding Game 3 Feb. 22 at Cochrane Arena.
Keenan McElroy sniped the series winner 4:11 into the first overtime period against Red Deer, sending Timberwolves to SCAHL’s Bantam North Division Round 2.
“We’ll have to see how their playoff beards grow in,” cracked Timberwolves head coach Kenton Levesque of his 13-14-year-old players. “They’ve been playing hard and they are getting the results. I’m glad for them.”
Charged with guiding the Bantam AA Timberwolves this season, the first-year head coach, aided by former head coach and now assistant-coach Dave Strang, has the squad headed in the right direction on schedule.
“They’ve really bought into what we’re trying to accomplish,” Levesque said. “They’re working hard for each other and sticking to the game plan. It’s gratifying as coach to be a part of this, to see the players succeed.”
Against Red Deer Ramada, Bow Valley took a 1-0 third-period lead on a goal from Seth Bernard-Docker. Red Deer tied it 30 seconds later, forcing overtime, where McElroy stuffed a rebound past Red Deer goalie Bretton Park in the crease.
