CARLYLE - Kirk Himmelspach is the coach of the Carlyle U18 Cougars and he is pleased with how his team played in their first provincial playoff game.
Himmelspach has been coaching this group of players for 10 years and he said they played a particularly good defensive game, keeping everything to the outside and taking advantage of the power plays. Carlyle defeated the Whitewood Elks 6-0 on Jan. 23 in front of a large crowd in Carlyle.
“Our penalty kill was excellent,” said Himmelspach. “It was an all-around solid game for us.”
The club has three games left in their regular season and s sitting in fourth place with a 12-5 record. Playoffs for the league will begin near the end of February.
Himmelspach said they have three tough games left and if they win them all, it could move them up to third.
Himmelspach has a lot of memories with this team, including a win in 2017 for the U11 Moose Mountain Minor Hockey League championship, and in 2022 they went to the south finals in U15 provincials.
They have made it to league finals numerous times. He feels that they have had a highly successful run in minor hockey.
Game 2 in provincials was slated for Jan. 29 in Whitewood. (Results were not immediately available).
