Fernie Ghostriders are hanging up their skates and jerseys for the season, after being defeated by the Columbia Valley Rockies in a suspenseful match-up in the playoffs.
The Riders were bested by the Rockies in all four of their playoff games. They finished the season in Invermere, where they were overcome by the Rockies by two points. The final score was 4-2.
Coach Chad Scharff said he's disappointed the team isn't continuing onward. They had a set-back in their first two opening playoff games on home ice on Feb. 28 and Mar. 1, and found it difficult to recover.
"It was obviously not the outcome we were looking for," Scharff said. "Lost game one. Game two, they [Rockies] scored with seconds left on the clock to win. Kind of put us behind the eight ball right away."
"Went to Columbia Valley on game three and found ourselves in a hole early in the first period, and couldn't climb our way out," he added.
Still, game one of the playoffs was close.
"We're disappointed, but at the same time, if you look at the records that we had and they had, it's probably the closest match up in round one of the playoffs out of any series," said Scharff.
Scharff said he's already turning his attention to the next season, and he has a few goals he'd like to work on.
"We want to get deeper with more balanced scoring throughout our lineup," he noted. "Have a deeper forward group that has some secondary scoring, and guys that are willing to play with a little sandpaper. Maybe get a little younger upfront."
Scharff and assistant coach Dante Raposo are heading to Calgary and Edmonton arenas to scout players for the Spring Camp, Apr. 4 to 6.
Seven players are aging out of the team next year, including star players Taylor Haggerty and Eric Martin.
"They were good Ghostriders here for the last few years and we're going to miss them," said Scharff. "The way they handled themselves this year and were able to lead the team to the playoffs, they'd be the first to tell you that we fell short. But if they look back on it personally and individually, they'd be pretty proud of themselves."
Scharff said Haggerty and Martin have plans to apply for university hockey teams. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks.
