The Ooks men's hockey team is off to the ACAC finals this weekend against the first-placed Red Deer Kings. The Ooks handled the Augustana Vikings with ease, sweeping them two games to none. The story of the playoffs for the Ooks has been their ability to come from behind and win. Game one was no different, with the Ooks down two heading into the third and scoring four unanswered to steal game one on the road. The Ooks took care of business on home ice in game two, completing the sweep. The Ooks got out to a lead and never looked back, walking away with a 3-1 victory en route to the ACAC finals. Ooks have been playing their best hockey of the season during their playoff stretch. Head Coach Scott Fellnermayr on what positives he's seen from his group.
"We've improved in every aspect of the game. We knew that it was a process and that what mattered most was how good we could be in March. I think we play a lot faster now, which is a result of being on the same page and being predictable to each other. On top of that, we've had some individuals that have stepped up in playoffs and made some creative, poised plays under pressure," said Fellnermayr.
The Ooks will have a tall task to knock off the league's best Red Deer Kings. The two teams met four times during the regular season, and the Ooks struggled to contain Red Deer's high-powered offence. Ooks were victorious in only one meeting this season. The league's top goal scorer, Jacob Kendall, has produced against the Ooks, registering four goals and two assists in three games. Ryland McNinch has been another King who has succeeded against the Ooks, producing at over a point per game clip, scoring three times and adding two assists. Red Deer led the ACAC in goals, averaging more than four a game. Fellnermayr knows that containing their offence will be challenging, but the defending champions are prepared for the task.
"We need to disrupt their speed with good structure on the forecheck, tracking and in the defensive zone. Boxing out net front will be key as we must limit their second and third chances on net. If we do those things, we'll be fine," said Fellnermayr.
Ooks Captain Brandon Lawson has been sensational against the Kings this year. He's recorded six points and will be a key contributor to the Ooks' success on and off the ice with his leadership and play. Ooks leading scorer Dylan Stewart has also raised his game against the league's best, producing five points in four games. Stewart's linemate, Bryce Osepchuk, has also had individual success racking up five points.
Ooks goaltender Ryley Osland has been unbelievable this postseason. His 1.25 goals against average and .961 save percentage are tops in the ACAC. He has been a large part of the Ooks two upset series wins and will need to continue his excellence in league finals. Fellnermayr knows how vital Osland has been but also credits the buy-in from his players.
"Ryley has been very solid for us. I think the boys are playing with a lot of confidence in the defensive zone knowing that he will make the first save. There has been some solid help in front of him as well. We've had full buy-in when it comes to blocking shots and defence first, but when we've had breakdowns, Ryley seems to be there for the big save," said Fellnermayr.
The Ooks won't have home ice for the third consecutive series. They will travel to Red Deer for game one of the five-game series on Friday night. The Ooks return home for an all-important game two on Saturday. The series takes a week hiatus before they return to action next weekend for a possible three games. Visit ACAC.ab.ca for all game times and locations and to stay current. You can also access all streaming services through their website.