PR - Wheat Kings

THE ICEMAN MELTETH: WHEAT KINGS ADVANCE TO CONFERENCE FINAL

The Saskatchewan Wheat Kings dispatched their cross-town rivals on Sunday, sending the goon-squad Ice to the frozen prairie links.

"I hope the blizzard drifts aren't too much of a hazard," a livid coach-GM Tyler Young quipped after game five. "Good riddance after the cheap minor league hockey they played this series. I was just glad to see the refs do things right this last game after the Ice ran amock for games three and four."

The Wheat Kings put on something of a clinic - good, clean, skilled hockey - which saw them take a 3-0 series lead. After that the Ice went Charlestown Chiefs on the Wheaties, intentionally injuring one of the Kings leading scorers, Matt Ellison, their top +/- d-man, Mike Rathje, and their #1 d-man, Mark Stuart. They also went after rookies Jimmy Howard and Nik Bergfors, who had a phenomenal series.

"It's as if if when they realized they couldn't win cleanly, that moron (Ice head coach) Bob Hartley told them to go out and play like animals. When they had gorillas like (David) Liffiton or (Daniel) Fernholm on the ice, at times I was seriously afraid for my guys. But then Hartley's known for that kind of thing. They got one win out of it I guess, but really, a shameful display, bad sportsmanship."

"But let's focus on the positive: our guys played a great series, we had some timely efforts and great performances. Nik was a monster out there tonight, he won that game. Last series Jimmy's effort got the clincher, this series it was Nik. That's what we need, timely play from our guys, especially those young core guys. And now with the next series we have a very exciting opponent, it should be a great finals."

The Wheat Kings will meet the Achaeans in the Western final. The last time these two teams met in the playoffs, the Achaeans won in six and waltzed-on to win the TFHL Cup.