It's official, the Revelstoke Grizzlies have once again crowned themselves champions of the KIJHL Okanagan Conference Finals, following an electrifying 5-4 home game against the 100 Mile House Wranglers to close the series Friday, April 4.
The first score of the contest came six minutes in when 100 Mile House's Jaden Rusznak slipped through the Grizzlies' defence to release a high backhand shot just below the crossbar on the left side of the cage. The goal didn't come without consequence, as Rusznak took a hard hit in the crease right after the score.
Revelstoke fought back two minutes later, as Jake Neufeld wheeled coast to coast and snapped a hard low shot from top of the left key, along the ice and into the right side of the net.
The scoring continued into the second frame on a shorthanded goal after five minutes, assisted by Riley Langille passing into the slot that bounced off teammate Dawson Harden right into the net. Langille is a special Wranglers talent from Perth, earning a spot on Australia's 2025 men's national team.
Just a minute later, Revelstoke defenceman Austin Wooley scooped up the puck in front of the Grizzlies' bench. Without hesitation, he charged down the boards, snaked his way toward the net and released a backhand shot that found its way in for a 2-2 tie.
Thirty seconds after, Langille swept around Grizzlies goalie Devin Degenstein from right to left side of the crease for an easy shot into the cage, taking the lead.
Refusing to slow down in 100 Mile House's elimination game, Nash Hilworth forced his way into the Grizzlies' zone and released a shot from the right key, which hit Degenstein's shoulder before rolling into net.
A swift 13 seconds later, Daniel Wittenberg got a goal tucked into the left side of the Wranglers' net, rebuilding the Grizzlies' momentum.
After four minutes, Dayton Abbott helped tie the game on a shot from left point, with the puck tipped in by Jaylen Forsyth. They'd both assisted Wittenberg's previous goal.
The game-winning score to send Revelstoke to the KIJHL championship round spawned from a shot by team captain Jacob Smith, with four minutes left in the second. Kesler Fyfe got an assist on the key goal.
The Wranglers pulled their goalie in the final minutes of the third. But Revelstoke ultimately kept the pressure on the visitors, more than doubling their shots on net at 55-23 by the game's end. Jaidyn Shaw, 100 Mile House's goalminder, blocked 50.
“We are obviously happy advancing to the league championship, and now we are just looking forward to the finals," Grizzlies coach Jiri Novak shared after the game. "I think we have a whole group that’s hungry to win the trophy again."
Asked how Revelstoke has succeeded year after year, Novak said, “It’s just about hard work, how we practise the whole season and always try to bring the hungry guys who want to win. It’s all about that process, and how we manage the situation. The results look kind of easy, but there was a moment where we had to show our great character. The guys played for each other. Now we are in the finals."
Smith echoed his coach's reaction to the Wranglers' efforts.
“I thought we had a great series, but 100 Mile is a hell of a team," he said. "They had a great run and we just played our game. We’re lucky to end the series and honestly, our focus now is already kind of 'enjoy it 'til midnight, then look forward to the finals.'"
Neufeld said that the key to the Grizzlies' successful series against the Wranglers was keeping their feet moving, using their speed to widen their opponents' defence, and not letting 100 Mile House "burn" them.
“The coaches really help us succeed," he added. "They show us a lot of video throughout the season, after games and before games. They are always telling us what we need to do better, if you did something good, just try to help throughout the game and work on mistakes so we don’t make them again."
The Grizzlies have now advanced to defend their 2024 KIJHL championship title against the Grand Forks Border Bruins.
“They’re a big team, but we have some big boys too," Smith affirmed. "We have some speed, so it’ll be a great series."
The next games hit the ice at the Revelstoke Forum at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13.
