Submitted by:
Chris Zamzow |

The Swan Valley Novice Mustangs faced Roblin in the first round of the Parkissimo consolation side playoffs. The Mustangs defeated Roblin with a pair of solid 14-4 and 11-2 wins over Roblin.

Pictured above:
Back row L-R: Chris Zamzow, Damian Leask, Peyton Lehmann, Kolby Danielson, Matt Zamzow, Porter Atkinson, Griffin Klatt, Tyler Mullin, Austin Eisner
Front row L-R: Bryden Danielson, Lincoln Staniland, Kennedy Baskier, Parker Hulme, Walker Atkinson

The second round was against Winnipegosis and the Mustangs won the best of three decisively in two games with scores of 13-5 and 12-1.
The final round was a north/south meeting in a best of three for the Consolation Championship against the Birtle Bruins.

The Mustangs loaded up and made the trek to Birtle on Thursday, March 23rd. Matt Zamzow opened the scoring twelve minutes into the first (Leask, Atkinson). A Damian Leask goal (Klatt) followed by Porter Atkinson’s first (Zamzow) got the Mustangs out to a 3-0 lead before Birtle could get on the board. An unassisted marker by Leask in the second and three late goals by Atkinson with assists from Hulme and Leask put the Mustangs up 7-4 and they comfortably took the first game of the series. Tight checking by forwards Bryden Danielson and Walker Atkinson and key face off wins by centre Peyton Lehmann were instrumental in helping the ‘Stangs to victory.

Game two Friday, March 24th saw a busload of Birtle kids arrive at the Corral looking to redeem themselves and force game three. Birtle jumped out to the lead ten minutes into the first. Damian Leask evened the tally two minutes later. At the ten minute mark of the second, after immense pressure from Birtle held off by the Mustangs solid backchecking by wingers Baskier, Danielson, Atkinson and Leask and stellar goaltending from Lincoln Staniland, Porter Atkinson scored to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead. Three minutes later Birtle tied it up 2-2. The game remained tied at two for nearly twenty minutes of play until Matt Zamzow scored with eight minutes remaining in the third to put the Mustangs up 3-2. An insurance goal from Damian Leask shortly after gave them a two goal lead, albeit not for any lack of effort by Birtle who played hard and kept the Mustangs defensive pairings of Eisner/Klatt and Hulme/Zamzow on their toes to hold the Bruins off the scoresheet most of the third. Birtle pulled their goalie late in the game and managed to score with twenty seconds left to make it a 4-3 final in favour of the Mustangs.

Head coach Kolby Danielson expressed his pleasure at the great effort and teamwork by all the players to manage to go undefeated through their playoffs.