Kindersley Klippers miss playoffs

By Jordan Parker

Heading into their final six games, the Klippers needed to win all but one to move on to the SJHL playoffs.

But they also didn’t count on a late-season surge from the Notre Dame Hounds, one that knocked Kindersley’s playoff hopes down with two games to go in the regular season.

Down five points from their rivals, Kindersley now finds themselves on the outside looking in as they head into the season’s final two games this weekend.

“We were officially eliminated Saturday. We beat Battleford 4-2, but Notre Dame beat Yorkton the same night,” said Assistant Coach Mitch Topinka. “It’s weird to go into this week knowing we’re out of the dance.”

It was Notre Dame’s stunning six-point leap in the standings on the final weekend in February that propelled them forward. They’ve gone 1-2 since, but the Klippers are just too far behind to make up ground.

“It’s all a bit bittersweet. We knew these final games would be tough. We had to win four of our last five. Friday, we lost at home against Battleford, but we hoped Notre Dame wouldn’t get another point,” he said.

“We were in such high spirits Saturday up two goals in the third; then the announced said Notre Dame had won. We were out of the playoffs. But we needed to get through those last few minutes and move forward.”

The team went through a season that saw them fight the injury bug, cope with COVID-19, see huge lineup changes at the trade deadline, and struggle to stay out of the penalty box. Topinka says there needs to be fire to keep going.

“You play 58 games in the season, and you really do have to play them all. We still have two left. For the 20-year-olds graduating from the league, we want them to take what they can from the experience and enjoy the last week,” he said.

“For guys who can come back, these games are still tryouts. If they’re not here to perform, they shouldn’t be here. They need to work, keep it positive and high-tempo, and finish this season with their heads held high.”

Team Captain Jaxon Georget, Assistant Captain Noah Lindsay, recent acquisition Andrew Schaab, and starting goaltender Matthew Pesenti are ageing out at the end of the season.

“We are going to miss those guys, but that’s the nature of this league. We have 18-and-19-year-olds who need to come show what they have,” he said.

Every single Klippers defenseman is eligible to return next season, meaning their defensive core could remain largely untouched.

“We will have to make some tough decisions, but it’s nice none of them are ageing out. It definitely helps,” he said.

As for goaltender, Topinka is sad to lose a player of Pesenti’s ilk.

“It’s not every day you have a player like him. In my eyes and Head Coach Plaquin’s, he’s one of the top goalies in the league. It’s going to be tough to replace him,” he said.

“It’s part of things, this rotating door, but our goalie Brett Sweet can help. Meetings with scouts and coaches will help us decide what to do.”

While the Klippers didn’t make the playoffs, Topinka hopes the team can find some silver linings from the year.

“We had ups and downs, but this is a great group of guys. There has been some truly elite play here,” he said. “I’m sure everyone is sad the season will be done soon, but I don’t have a single complaint about this staff or the character of the guys on this team.”