The Innisfail Midget A Kinsmen Flyers are provincial silver medalists.
Not only did they win silver in Edson at the provincial zone championships the weekend of March 20 to 23, but they also captured the Zone 4 title on Feb. 20 by defeating Red Deer, Beaumont, Maskwacis, and Wetaskiwin over the course of the series.
The Flyers claimed the North Central Minor Hockey Association League banner on home ice in Innisfail on March 15 in a game against the Barrhead Steelers with a score of 5-1.
“It was an awesome experience claiming the league banner at our last home game in an arena full of fans,” said Rankin. “Many of these players have played together since they started playing hockey.”
The Midget A Flyers played the Barrhead Steelers four times, winning three of the games. They beat the Steelers 5-1 on March 15 for the league banner.
The Flyers finished the Edson tournament tied with the Barrhead Steelers with four wins and one loss -- falling to the Steelers 4-2 for the silver hardware. Goalie Greg Pols posted a 1.41 goals-against average during provincials with a .959 save percentage and Patrick Fougere netted five goals and two assists in five games. Fougere scored two goals in the provincial final.
“Our season was a team victory,” said Tara Rankin, manager of the Flyers.
She added her team is composed of 15- to 17-year-olds, 11 of which are now finished their minor hockey careers and ready for their next phase of hockey life whatever that might look like.
“The next step would be Junior A, and if that works out well, the WHL could be their new home,” added Rankin.
Even after the Innisfail Minor Hockey Association awards banquet last week, the Flyers did not have time to rest on their laurels. They were invited to play in a tournament in Cochrane against the Cremona Cowboys, Calgary McKnight Mustangs, and the Cochrane Rockies.
