The Westlock Senior Warriors head into the North Central Alberta Hockey League playoffs as the No. 6 seed following back-to-back losses to end the regular season.
The club fell to 7-9-2 on the year after dropping a 3-0 decision Jan. 19 in Red Deer and then losing 10-4 in Bonnyville the following night.
The Warriors now face the Morinville Kings in a best-of-five series starting this weekend.
“It was a tough game,” said Warriors defenceman Rod Kaliel. “We didn’t put enough effort into it for sure. There was nothing on the line and all of the playoff spots were secured. We gave up some grade ‘A’ chances.”
Westlock went to Bonnyville with a short bench and the Pontiacs were ready for them.
With each team netting 41 shots apiece, Warrior goaltender Jordan Brand did everything he could to keep Westlock in the game.
Team captain Mike Ivey scored two goals, with Kolbe Waldner and Brett Bujold potting singles.
In Red Deer, the Warriors held strong in the first and third periods, but during the second the Rustlers snuck three goals past Graeme Harrington, who faced 48 shots throughout the night and earned the third star for the evening.
Ivey ends the season as the Warriors’ top scorer with 12 goals and nine assists. His brother Scott is close behind with seven goals and 10 assists, while Brett Bujold and Taylor Heck take the third and fourth spots, with eight goals and three assists and four goals and five assists, respectively.
Game 1 is Jan. 25 in Morinville and Kaliel said the Warriors will be ready.
“Tonight was a disappointing result, but we’re going to have to just forget it and regroup on Friday night,” said Kaliel. “We’ll turn it around for sure.”
