CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2015/16 TITANS WHO HAVE DONE US ALL SO PROUD!

 

Pictured above is the team following the south division championship final game.

 

Coach Willy Wong, Carlie Senkiw, Isable Johnson, Ceanna Maldaner

Krista Morris, Korrie Stewart, Taylor Stewart, Kaylea Renz, Enid Kozak, Jordyn Snyder, Kelsie Reed, Coach Steve Hibbard and President Craig Sparrow

Jenna Wasylik, Alyssa Lavallee, (G) Rachel Hamilton, Amy Kuchak, (G) Jenna Patrician, Jenna Firkus, Kristy Schaefer

 

 

Missing:  Coach Don Wilson, Kira Makuk, Kira Wasilyk, Janine Jomaa, Sophie Restauro, Maddie Wilton-Clark, Elizabeth Wong

 

Here is a brief synopsis of the playoff run by the Titans.

 

 

To capture the South division final they defeated the Central Alberta Amazons in 2 games, best of three and then defeated the Lethbridge Eagles 2 games to 1, best of three.

 

The first two games against the Amazons were close in score but the Titans had a decided edge in play in both games.  Ultimately the Titans prevailed 1-0 in the first game having outshot the Amazons 52 - 16.  The second game was close as well with the Titans prevailing 2-1 and having outshot the Amazons 36 - 17.

 

The series victory vs the Amazons lead to the south division final against the first place Lethbridge Eagles who had been dominate all year long and presented a formidable challenge for the Titans in what turned out to be an emotionally charged and very difficult, close, hard fought series with the Eagles holding home ice advantage.

 

Game 1 in Lethbridge was a penalty filled affair that saw the Titans take a 2 -0 lead until the game became a penalty filled affair.  After receiving only 1 penalty in the first period the Titans were handed 10 penalties in the 2nd period and only 1 more in the 3rd.  The eagle scored 2 times in the second period to tie the game which ended tied 2-2 after regulation.  With the game now in sudden death overtime format and after about 3 minutes of play a huge controversy occurred.  The Titans thought they had secured a victory when a goal was scored in overtime but subsequently and mysteriously it was disallowed, without explanation, by the referee.  At 5:55 of the overtime Lethbridge scored a goal to secure the victory winning 3-2.

 

Game 2 was equally close and hard fought.  The Eagles took a 2-1 lead going into the 3rd period.  The Eagles scored again at the 5 minute mark of the 3rd period to take a 3-1 lead.  The Titans were unphased though and continued to fight hard which was the hallmark of their success this season.  With their backs against the wall and the season on the line, they scored their second goal at the 15 minute mark to make it 3-2.  With 40 seconds left in the game the Titans scored again to tie the game 3-3 and send it into overtime.  With chances at both ends the Titans scored a goal at the 9 minute mark of overtime and it wasn't disallowed.  Titans win game 2 and the final was set for Lethbridge on Wednesday night, March 9 in Lethbridge.

 

Game 3 was another nail biter.  The Titans had to play the game with a roster depleted team however, they were a determined and enthusiastic group.  The Eagles took a 3-2 lead into the 3rd period.  The Titans scored in the third period at the 5 minute mark to tie the game 3-3.  It was back and forth for the rest of the period although arguably, the Titans had the better of the play.  At the 3:33 mark of the third the Titans scored again to go ahead 4-3 and despite a furious end push by the Eagles, with several glorious scoring chances, they were unable to find the back of the net and the Titans won the game 4-3.

 

By all accounts it was simply an outstanding, hard fought and emotional series between two very good teams.

 

The Titans having won the south division championship were off to the AJFHL league championship series, both first time occurerences for the Titans, the following Saturday, March 12 in Ft. Saskatchewan so, no rest for the Titans as the regular season 22-6 Fort Saskatchewan Fury, were up next right away in the AJFHL league final series in a best of 5 format.  The Titans knew they were in for the most difficult test of the season although they had beaten the Fury in the regular season so  it was not out of the question that they could be beaten again by the Titans.

 

Games 1 & 2 did not end in a favourable result with the Titans being outplayed badly in both games and losing 4-1 and 4-0 respectively and were heavily out shot.  It was obvious that the emotional drain from the Lethbrdige series had taken its toll.

 

Games 3 and 4 were scheduled for Calgary and back on home ice for the first time in 3 games and were much different affairs with the true Titans team showing up ready to play.

 

Game 3 saw the Titans playing with their backs against the wall as to win the league championship they would need to win 3 straight games which the Fury hadn't conceded all season long.  The game saw each team trade goals 3 times in the second period and it was tied 3-3 after 2 periods.  Of significant note the Titans scored 1 short handed goal while killing a two man penalty disadvantage. The Titans scored what proved to be the game winner at 14:24 of the 3rd period and managed to hang on after defending a furious determined comeback by Fort Saskatchewan and win game 3.

 

Game 4 with the Titans still needing a victory to force a final decisive game 5 saw another hard fought close game.  The Titans took an early lead but relinquished it late in the first period which ended tied 1-1.  The Titans took the lead again on an early goal in the second period but the Fury fought back hard and scored 2 times in the second taking a 3-2 lead going into the 3rd period.  The Titans scored at the 11:04 mark in the third period to tie the game 3-3.  The Fury scored again to take the lead 4-3 at the 6:55 mark.  The Titans continued to fight hard and scored at the 2:25 minute mark to tie the game 4-4.  It was looking like another overtime game at that point.  However, it wasn't to be.  The Fury scored with 0:54 seconds left in the game to take the lead 5-4 and then scored an empty net goal to win the game 6-4 and win the league championship.

 

An incredible, emotionally draining playoff run for not only the Titans players and coaches but all the fans who thoroughly enjoyed the highly competitive, hard fought, excellent  quality of play that hsould and did define a league championship series.