The Stettler Imperials secured their first ECSHL championship on Friday night at the Stettler Recreation Centre, defeating Wainwright 3-2 to claim the best-of-five final series three games to two.
Dylan Houston & Coy Pighin provided the second-period cushion the Imperials needed, while the defense weathered a late push from Wainwright to secure the Ralph Weist Memorial Trophy in front of a home crowd.
Stettler opened the scoring on the power play after a back-and-forth first period saw Wainwright goaltender Thomas Isaman turn aside several high-danger chances from Erik Rost & Quade Cassidy.Â
However, Wainwright found a response on a man-advantage of their own, knotting the game at 1-1.
The Imperials regained momentum in the middle frame. Dylan Houston beat Isaman to make it 2-1, followed shortly by Pighin, who capitalized on a feed from Rost to extend the lead to two.
Wainwright’s Connor James cut the deficit to one late in the game, beating the Stettler defense to keep the pressure on.Â
Despite a frantic final minute where Wainwright looked to force overtime, the Imperials managed to freeze the puck behind the net in the dying seconds.
As the final horn sounded, the Imperials bench cleared, with gloves & helmets littering the ice in celebration of the team’s first senior title.
Stettler captain Adam Ternes accepted the Ralph Weist Memorial Trophy amid a roar from the local fans.
The championship banner will find its home in the Stettler Recreation Centre, a tribute to a 16-1-1 season & 9-2 playoff run.
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
