GPAC's Harsch In WHL Final
By LOGAN CLOW
Daily Herald-Tribune
From a Swan City point of view, it’s WHL rookies Reece Harsch (Grande Peace Athletic Club 2012-2016)versus Kjell Kjemhus in the WHL Championships.
Others would see it as the Seattle Thunderbirds versus the Regina Pats going head-to-head for the major junior title in the best-of-seven series.
“It’s going to be a hell of a series I think. I think it’s just the team that wants it the most. It’s playoff hockey. Anything can happen. Anything can go both ways. I think, in the end, it comes down to preparation and who has the will, who wants it more and who’s willing to shut the other team down,” said Kjemhus.
“We’re expecting to put up a good fight. It’s two good teams going head-to-head,” noted Harsch. “The first couple of games are definitely going to be tough, so we’ve just got to grind it out and prepare for a seven-game series.”
Both Harsch and Kjemhus are no strangers to each other. They’ve skated together in the off-season and have tried to keep in touch.
But when the puck drops in game one Friday in Regina, both players say their Swan City connection will be put aside.
“I’ll be rubbing him out in the corners. A little friendly competition going on there,” noted Harsch, with a chuckle.
Predicting how the series will go between the two teams is difficult to gauge. The Pats won their lone regular season game 6-3 but that was back in late October.
The Pats were, however, the top WHL team with a 52-12-7-1 record and were one of the highest scoring as well with a combined 353 goals. In the post-season, they ousted the Calgary Hitmen, Swift Current Broncos and Lethbridge Hurricanes.
It may be the Pats’ first appearance in the championships since 1984, but they’ve shown they’re a force to be reckoned with.
Pats forward Sam Steel won multiple awards this season after registering 50 goals and 81 assists this season. His 131 points were the most in the WHL since 2011-2012.
Pats coach John Paddock was also named the WHL’s Coach of the Year.
“We obviously have a very skilled team and probably the best coaches in the CHL as a group here. I think we’ve earned it... the team’s earned it just by our play and effort and it feels great,” said Kjemhus, who was held pointless in three regular season games and has one assist in the playoffs on the team’s fourth-line.
Stats aside, one advantage the Thunderbirds have is their experience. Last year, the team lost to the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL finals.
This season, the Thunderbirds, who finished the regular season with a 40-20-4-2 record and were one of the best defensive teams with only allowing 206 goals against, eased their way through the playoffs with series wins over the Tri-City Americans, Portland Winterhawks and Kelowna Rockets.
Harsch, pointless in 14 playoff games, believes having players that went through last year’s finals will pay dividends this year.
“We all stick up for each other. And, we just stick to the systems and they all seem to be working for us,” said Harsch, who registered three goals and nine assists on the blueline this season.
