The 2020 playoffs will begin in March. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

playoff action

Ice Wolves make playoffs with five games left in regular season

Feb 18, 2020 | 4:54 PM

The La Ronge Ice Wolves are officially in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs.

“I think it is a huge accomplishment,” head coach Kevin Kaminski, who is in his first season with the team, said. “I have to give our scouting staff a lot of credit for the job they have done to bring players in. I think it is getting the guys to buy in and this is what it is all about.”

The Ice Wolves advanced to playoffs after an overtime 4-3 win Feb. 15 against the Notre Dame Hounds. Rowan Barnes scored the first goal for the team in the first period, followed by two more goals by Jordan Mish and Spencer Kennedy in the third. James Philpott made the overtime goal with assists from Mish and Ty Budai.

Kaminski mentioned in the next five games of the regular season, he would like for the team to place third or fourth to have the opportunity to get home ice advantage in the first round of playoffs.

“With a little luck and maybe some teams getting beat, we can get another round of home ice advantage,” he said. “Our goal here in the next five games is to keep on winning and get the first round of playoffs for home ice advantage.”

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Kaminski also noted the board, fans and community are excited for the playoff spot as it marks the first time since 2016 since the Ice Wolves have done so. He said more details about the 2020 playoffs will likely be released after this weekend.

There are four more regular season home games including Feb. 19 against the Estevan Bruins, Feb. 21 against Weyburn Red Wings, Feb. 23 against the Notre Dame Hounds and Feb. 28 against the Flin Flon Bombers. All start times are 7:30 p.m. with the exception of the Hounds game at 5 p.m. The final game of the regular season is Feb. 29 in Flin Flon.

“We have to keep our nose to the grindstone and keep playing Ice Wolves hockey, which is smart and hard and grease and gritty,” Kaminski said. “We have to keep getting better at the little things we pride on and have good habits the last five games here to be successful.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno