Thunder Atoms celebrate a decisive win of 7-3 against the Pincher Creek Chinooks. This win sends the Thunder team into a second round in their bid for Provincials in Didsbury which will take place in March. The team will face Nanton in the second round.
LINDSAY GOSS
Pass Herald Reporter
The Crowsnest Pass Thunder Atoms hockey team started their first round of two games provincial playoffs against the Pincher Creek Chinooks on Thursday, January 17th in Pincher Creek. The game resulted in a 4-4 tie, making the game to follow a do-or-die situation.
Game number two, also against the Pincher Creek Chinooks, was hosted by the Atoms at the Coleman Sports Complex on Wednesday, January 23rd, with the puck dropping at 6 p.m.
The game was an intense one, many members of team, considering it the most important game of their hockey career so far.
Dan Jones, Assistant Coach of the Thunder Atoms team said that many members of the team were near to sick from the extreme nerves of the game they were faced with.
“Some of the players didn’t want to go to school that day, or even to the hockey rink. It was very stressful for them,” said Jones.
Despite the nerves, the Thunder Atoms pulled off a winning game, beating the Chinooks -3. “They have worked so hard during the season and things are finally coming together,” said Jones.
The Thunder Atoms have only had one loss in the past eight games.
Although the next team the Atoms will be playing against is still undetermined, it has been concluded that they will either play Okotoks or Nanton. “It’s pretty exciting to be on the bench with the kids,” said Jones. “The games can get very intense, and it’s great to be a part of the excitement.”
