CANORA – It’s probably fitting that a series which defied logic for the first four games would be decided in a winner-take-all Game 5 to crown the 2025/26 SEHL champions.
After being outplayed in a Game 1 loss on home ice, the Canora Cobras bounced back with two unlikely wins on the road in Langenburg, including a 7-6 come-from-behind overtime win in Game 3.
The Cobras had the opportunity to wrap up the title in front of a boisterous home crowd in Game 4, but the Warriors prevailed 7-2 in probably their biggest win of the season to this point.
Game 3
After a pair of relatively lopsided games to start the series, Game 3 on March 20 was in doubt right up to the end. The first period saw the Cobras skate to a 3-1 lead.
“We started good and they were a bit flat in the first period,” said Cobras Coach Darren Schwartz. ”Then in the second, for some reason we stood back and watched them. They came out hungry and scored five goals. With their speed and skill, that’s what they do well if you let them.”
Trailing 6-3 heading into the third period things were not looking good for the Cobras, but they bounced back with three unanswered goals to force overtime.
“We shortened the bench and kept plugging away,” said Schwartz. “We were upset that we gave up the lead and got back to playing our game. We built lots of momentum and finally tied it up. The Warriors had plenty of good chances but Ross Hawryluk made some big saves for us.”
After a back-and-forth battle in overtime, Kody Rock of Canora found the back of the net to give the Cobras a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
Rock had a fine offensive night, also adding three assists for the Cobras. Logan Foster of Grayson led the way with two goals and three assists, while Scott Mickoski of Regina set up two goals and also scored twice, giving him six goals in the back-to-back games at Langenburg. Other Cobras goals came from Damian Bentz of Madge Lake and Carter Dereniwsky of Canora, who also added an assist.
Game 4
The next evening the series moved back to Canora. The Cobras, backed by a full house of over 600 fans, were looking to end the series and claim their second consecutive SEHL championship, this time on home ice.
An early goal by Damian Bentz of Madge Lake appeared to set the Cobras off on the right track. But not long after, a charging penalty assessed to Bentz may have been the turning point in the game.
“It was an awful call, especially in a game this big,” said Coach Schwartz. “We were ahead in shots 8-1, and by the end of the first period, shots were 21-11 for Langenburg.
“The reffing was awful for this game and for Game 2. It was great in Game 3, you didn’t even notice the refs were out there."
Scott Mickoski added his seventh goal in the last three games, but by the first intermission the Warriors led 3-2.
Four unanswered goals in the second period were more than enough for Langenburg, leading to a scoreless final period.
“I had a talk with the team after the game,” said Schwartz. “I told them, ‘We should be upset. But it’s only one game, we have to leave that behind.
“We felt bad that we didn’t win it at home for ourselves and for our fans, especially with how they’ve supported us so well all year. But we still have one more chance to win the championship now, no sense holding anything back for Game 5. It comes down to who wants it more.”
The deciding fifth game was scheduled for Langenburg on March 27.
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