It a hockey story about two towns and just enough kids to card a hockey team. The Pincher Creek Huskies Midget team is a small one, made up of 15 players and one goalie.

Three of those players come from the Crowsnest Pass, Craig Marshall, Chase Snider and Keiran Douglas.

The coaches of the team, Kent Goodreau and Lyle Douglas, knew from the start this was going to be a great team. With eight of the players playing their third and final year of minor hockey and eight moving up the ranks, they are both physically and mentally strong. Several players on the team have played at elite levels in both the AA and AAA system with the majority deciding to play at home, the love for the game of hockey still realized at the house level.

The Huskies played in the Central Alberta Hockey League, playing against teams from as far north as Red Deer. When the team first joined the league they were placed in Tier 3 division. After the first game they were bumped up to Tier 1 and have never looked back. The team ended in third place in the division.

During the 2014/15 season the team with veteran players Marc Sciarra, Jarret Koentges and Derek Tarcon also won a berth to Midget Provincials in Three Hills. The team ended the tournament in third place, after three very close nail biting games.

This year the team attended provincials in Provost, AB population 2050. The community pulled out all the stops hosting a home-made team dinner for 400, fantastic opening ceremonies highlighted with guest speaker Curtis Glencross who grew up in the area. The community boasts a fundraised state of the art arena which has a lounge, ice rink that seats 1200 people, a swimming pool, indoor track and exercise facility.

The Huskies played their first game on Thurs., March 10 against host team Provost with 600 people in attendance. The team won their first game 9-1. Three goals from Chase Snider, two goals from Levi Anderson and Jesson Luco and one from Jason Creighton. Assisting the goals were Colin Lincez, Eligh Big Bull, Craig Marshall, Sam Gerrand, Austin Kristjanson and Keiran Douglas. The team took 8 minutes in penalties. Player of the game was Chase Snider.

The second game took place on Sat., March 11 against Elk Point. The team won the game 15 to 5. Five goals were scored by Craig Marshall, four goals from Levi Anderson, three from Sam Gerrand and single goals from Chase Snider, Jason Creighton and Brandt Sabo. Three assists by Keiran Douglas, one from Nick Jordan, Eligh Big Bull and Jesson Luco. The team took 40 minutes in penalties. Player of the game was Craig Marshall.

The third round play took place on Sat., March 12 against Elk Point. The team was down for the first time in the tournament 3-2 after the second period. Penalties were the downfall of the team. At one point the team was short handed two players for 3 minutes which Elk Point took advantage of scoring two quick goals. The team re-grouped in the third period scoring four goals to end the game with a 6-3 win. Eli Big Bull scored three goals, Craig Marshall, Levi Anderson, Sam Gerrand all chipped in with one goal. Assisting the goals were Nick Jordan, Chase Snider, Jason Creighton Bandt Sabo and Keiran Douglas. The team took 14 minutes in penalties. Player of the game was Eli Big Bull.

With a sweep of the competition, the Huskies played Lamont in the first semi-final round on Sun., March 13th. Levi Anderson scored four goals and Eli Big Bull helped with one. Assisting were Craig Marshall and Ethan Richards. The team took 16 minutes in penalties with the player of the game going to goal tender Jeremey Kretz with his shut out.

In the final game for gold the Husky team looked ready for action.

After the singing of the national anthem the team took to the ice.

The team faced Valleyview who they played in round robin and won 6-3 in a hard fought match.

The end result was a 5-2 loss for the Husky’s giving them a silver medal for their efforts. The goalie from Valleyview played an amazing game stopping 40 out of 42 shots, winning player of the game.

No matter what the Husky offence put at him, the goalie stopped almost everything.

Scoring for the Husky team were Craig Marshal and Ethan Richards. Assists to Eligh Big Bull and Jason Creighton. The team only took 2 minutes in penalties. Player of the game went to Sam Gerrand.

Eight of the 16 Midget players retire their jersey after the provincial weekend. Finishing their minor hockey career are Craig Marshall, Keiran Douglas, Sam Gerrand, Eligh Big Bill, Austin Kristjanson, Colin Lincez, Jeremy Kretz and Levi Anderson.

At the end of the season the boys finished third place in Tier 2 hockey playing against cities such as Red Deer. They participated in Provincials winning the round robin play and posting four out of five players as the top scorers of the tournament. The team, in a hard fought battle, took home a silver medal, but at the end of the day each and everyone of the players were winners for their commuities showing sportmanship in defeat and grace in winning.