麻豆社区

It proved to be a bittersweet end to a stellar showing for the Yukon Peewee Mustangs.

The young squad became the second Whitehorse rep hockey team to lose in a championship final at provincials on Friday, dropping the gold medal game 4-1 to Merritt.

The Yukon鈥圔antam Mustangs also lost their provincial final to Vanderhoof in overtime last week.

Last season, the Bantam Mustangs won the first Tier 3 provincial title in Yukon history, setting a new standard for the territory鈥檚 hockey program.

In West Vancouver Friday, the Peewee Mustangs dropped their first game of the tournament in the final.

They had previously beaten Vancouver 6-4, Kitimat 10-0, Sooke 8-2 and Trail 7-3.

They downed Dawson Creek 4-1 in the semis on Thursday.

In Friday鈥檚 final, Connor Cozens was the only Whitehorse shooter to find the back of the net, with an assist from top point-getter Ashton Underhill 鈥� who finished with 13 points.

Defenceman Sasa Jirousek also had 13 points in the tournament, while Josh Wanless went 5-1 between the pipes.

Merritt played well and some tough penalty calls in the final didn鈥檛 help matters, Mustangs coach Jakub Jirousek told the Star today.

鈥淲e were a better team than them, but our team and especially our d-men were just worn out. They had worked so hard all week. But these guys have a very bright future together.鈥�

Flashy forward Ty Beacon missed the final serving a suspension.

鈥淭he whole year, I told them we鈥檙e building to learn how to play as a team,鈥濃�圝irousek said.

And the system the coaching crew implemented paid off at provincials.

鈥淲e really came together as a team and it showed. We dismantled teams. Our defencemen as a unit were the best there. We had the least goals against.鈥�

Jirousek said his team played two perfect games 鈥� the 10-0 win over Kitimat and the semifinal win over a strong Dawson Creek side.

The Mustangs鈥� aggressive style of play was thwarted in the final by some strict play-calling by the referee.

鈥淓very time we got in their face to dominate them, we got a penalty,鈥� the coach said, noting penalty minute totals were a lopsided 30 to eight.

Hockey Yukon president Russ Smoler said the Mustangs should be proud of their performances.

鈥淚t is a big deal,鈥� he said of the two finals appearances. 鈥淚 think it shows that our guys are right up there, and it鈥檚 good exposure for them as well.鈥�

Smoler said the transfer of the Mustangs from the Whitehorse Minor Hockey Association has proved to be successful, allowing organizers to focus solely on the rep teams.