Sun Devils break out the brooms against Axemen, advancing in playoffs

Veteran Tegal Rogal had a trio of assists in the win and said the team executed their game plan to perfection.

“We never let them in the offensive zone,” said Rogal. “We were playing such good defence and such good press that they didn’t even have a chance to score.”

It’s the second year in a row that Medicine Hat has bounced the Axemen in the first round, however they needed three games to do so in 2018.

Something that captain Aidan McLean didn’t want to duplicate this year.

“We had to keep our foot on their throats metaphorically or else we could have let up,” said McLean. “That’s what happened last year, they won the first game then we came back to win the next two. So, we had to have that in the back of our minds that we didn’t want that to happen to us.”

McLean led the Sun Devils forces with nine points on Sunday, while Noah Weimer had a game-high five goals.

Playing his third season in a Sun Devils uniform, McLean said the team has been playing unselfishly lately and it’s starting to pay off.

“For a few years we were kind of playing ‘hero ball,’” said McLean. “Now we’re running a system and it’s getting really good. We’re working on it really hard in practices and it’s finally paying off.”

Seeing the program rise from basement dwellers a few years ago to a consistent threat to make the second round of playoffs, head coach Chris Loran said everything he’s preaching is getting through to his players.

“We’re looking for growth every game we step out,” said Loran. “We’re just reinforcing the systems and making sure that they’re falling in line, and it seems to be paying off. We’re definitely defensively strong and that just in return gives us the offensive drive.”

Medicine Hat’s biggest test of the season still lies ahead however, as they now draw the top-ranked Sylvan Lake Yettis in the second round of the post-season.

Losing their lone tilt of the season with Sylvan Lake on May 11 by a score of 14-3, the Sun Devils are still confident they can hang with the 13-1 Yettis.

“They played really well, they beat us sadly,” said Rogal. “But, I think if we keep playing like we’re playing… [it will be] easy, no problem.”

Medicine Hat will have to shut down Sylvan Lake sniper Kien Bowen, who torched the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League for 52 goals and 93 points in just 13 games.

Loran said they’ve been working on their defensive systems over the past month for such a challenge.

“That’s why we’ve been basically focusing on our defensive drive,” said Loran. “They’re a very strong offensive team, they got a lot of assets powered going to the net. We just got to play our positions, play tight on them.”

Every game of the best-of-three series will be played in Sylvan Lake, beginning with Game on July 6 at 5:00 pm.

The winner of the series will advance to the provincial junior ‘B’ tournament, which will be played from July 19 to 21.

by Scott Roblin

Sun Devils break out the brooms against Axemen, advancing in playoffs

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