Redwings capture Cross Roads Hockey League title in second season

By David McIver

ROSETOWN — In just their second year in the Cross Roads Hockey League, the Rosetown Redwings are champions.

The Redwings defeated the defending champion Dodsland Stars 4-1 on Friday to win the fifth and deciding game of the league final.

“I’m just excited. That was fun,” said team captain Jordan Johnston. “We have so many young guys on the team that it’s just exciting for them to experience what it’s like to win something like this.”

The senior Rosetown Redwings won the Cross Roads Hockey League championship on Friday. They defeated the Dodsland Stars 4-1 on home ice: (front, L) Kyle Ireland, Noah Martens, Corben Hogan; (kneeling, L) Kane Dubé, Cam MacDonald, Eric Robbie, Grady Ostrom, John Hill, Tyler Moore, Jared Jagow and Jordan Johnston; (standing, third row, L) manager Bob Clothier, Avery Ironside, Mitchel Robbie, Walker Doetzel, Mike Sparks, Greg McDonald, Morgan Sparks; (back row, L) Tommy Lloyd, Jeff Hill, Cole Lewis, head coach Curtis MacDonald, (also in plain clothes) Colt Cross, assistant coach Rio Mahon and Braxton Cutler; missing: backup goaltender Jonny Kampen. Photo by David McIver

Rosetown led 2-0 after the first period and 3-1 after the second.

Johnston and Jared Jagow each scored twice, while Kyle Ireland had three assists and Kane Dubé added two helpers.

Brad Buckingham scored the lone goal for the Stars, unassisted at 4:40 of the second period.

Noah Martens turned aside 29 shots for the Redwings, while Conner Kidd made 18 saves for Dodsland. Johnston’s opening goal came from a sharp angle and deflected in off a defender.

Johnston, Jagow and Ireland — who joked their combined ages total 112 — said they’ve had opportunities at championships before, making the win especially meaningful for younger teammates.

“It’s always fun to win,” said Johnston.

At the start of the season, players set a goal of winning the league title, said coach Curtis MacDonald.

“They said they would win the league and they went out and did it,” he said, praising Martens’ performance in goal.

“For a lot of those guys, it’s the first championship … so that’s extra special,” said Jagow. “We couldn’t have done it without the commitment from all of the guys in town.”

Ireland said he returned this season determined to be part of the group.

“I haven’t been nervous for a senior hockey game for a long time, but I was nervous for them to experience it,” he said. “It’s fun, too, to come back and play with them. Obviously, our bodies are hurting.”

Ireland added he had already planned to return for one more season.

“I’ve said a hundred times this is my last year. It feels like it. We’ll see. That was pretty fun.”

Martens said the Redwings were sharper in the deciding game.

“We played a lot better today than we did last game. It showed on the scoreboard,” he said. “We still got outshot, but I thought we got the better chances. We made our shots count.”

Winning the championship was a first for some players.

“It feels amazing,” said Morgan Sparks. “I personally have never won anything in my life, so to do it with these guys has been amazing.”

Dubé recalled his last title came a decade ago.

“This was pretty exciting. We knew what we had and just had to bring it every game,” he said.

The Stars forced the fifth game with a 4-3 win in Kerrobert on March 21. Carson Dobson scored twice, including the winner on a third-period power play, while Boston Dipple and Jon McDonald added singles. The Stars outshot Rosetown 40-26.

Eric Robbie scored twice for the Redwings in that game, with Johnston adding the other. Martens made 36 saves, while Kidd stopped 23 shots.

Rosetown won the series opener 4-3 in overtime on March 1 and took Game 3 by an 8-4 score on March 20. Dodsland claimed Game 2 with a 3-1 victory on March 13.

A large crowd was on hand for the championship game, boosted by a U-18 A Western Prairie Redwings girls playoff game earlier in the day and the opening draws of the Rosebowl Spiel. Paid attendance for the senior final was about 800, according to manager Bob Clothier, with total attendance likely higher.

The turnout and the title capped the season on a high note for the Redwings.