After coming up short in the finals last season, this season saw the Manning Comets manage to win the North Peace Hockey League championship.
Assistant Coach Greg Pasichnuk says they were able to get some big contributions from both some newcomers to the team and some of their veterans.
“We were very fortunate over the last couple of years. We had a couple of people move to town. Edge Lambert came to Manning a couple of years ago, it’s now his second season playing here. Spencer Brooks, we got lucky with. He moved to town and he’s working on his pilots license for helicopters. It was one of those situations where we had a team with some aging players. Michael Gillen came here eight years ago and he’s been playing with us ever since.”
Goaltending was also important with Braden Gamble getting two shutouts in the finals.
The championship win was the Comets first since 1987 and Pasichnuk says there will some celebrations happening in the community.
“The Comets when they won in 1987 did a little parade in an old convertible and we definitely want to re-live that moment. We’re going to pick are dates and we’re definitely going to do that, but right now we’re going to share the trophy with all of the North communities. Right now it’s making its turn around Manning, then I’m sure it will head up to La Crete for some tournaments and maybe make it through High Level. It’s very exciting and we’re looking forward to all the planning and all the parades we’re going to have this summer.”
You can listen to the full interview below.
– Kyle Moore, Trending 55 Newsroom
