The Redvers Rockets capped off their season with a Big Six championship victory, securing the league title with a 6-2 win over the Moosomin Rangers.
Head coach Brian Magotiaux said it was exactly the kind of game they expected.
“It was a good game, and it’s kind of what everybody expected,” he said. “The first two games were fairly close, especially that last one in Moosomin—1-0 game, you won’t see that very often in a final game between two teams that have high-scoring, quality players. Last night was no different. We came ahead 2-0, they came back, tied her up, and luckily we got a few good chances there right at the end of the second period to move back ahead 4-2. And we came out in the third strong and didn’t look back after that.”
Magotiaux said winning the league title meant a lot to the team.
“Oh, it was huge. It was a heck of a good feeling,” he said. “The boys set their goals at the beginning of the year, and there was nothing more that they wanted than to take back that title and bring it back home.”
He credited the team’s leadership and dedication throughout the season.
“Like I said, there’s 25 guys there and they’re all committed. They wanted the same thing. They showed up all year and it showed at the end. We were healthy and got the job done,” he said, adding that the team’s veterans played a big role in their success.
“Oh, not just the commitment, but the leadership,” he said. “There’s some good veterans on that team, and their leadership skills are unbelievable. And all the younger guys, they kind of look up to that. They want to be just like them, and they’re growing. And I think that’s what’s going to keep the team going for years is just that continuity from players, from veterans to the young guys, and community involvement, right? They want to give back to the community, and it’s a huge thing for them.”
The championship win was significant because it came against the Rangers, a team the Rockets have battled for titles in recent years.
“It was definitely nice, right?” Magotiaux said. “We beat them three years ago, and they kind of took it back last year. And it’s like, well, it’s our turn now. If you want something, you gotta go get it. You gotta believe in yourselves and believe in everyone around you, and if you believe in that, good things could happen.”
The Rockets aren’t done yet. They will now compete in the SHA Senior D provincial championship, facing the Edam 3 Stars in a best-of-three series.
Game 1 is set for Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Redvers Rec Centre, with Game 2 taking place the following weekend on the road.
“We’re trying to accomplish a goal that we wanted—a double banner,” Magotiaux said. “The first part was winning the league, and we got that last night. And now we’re hoping we can really finish the chapter in the next two weeks and come home with a double banner.”
He said winning the league title gives the team a confidence boost heading into provincials.
“The boys are confident, and it’s good to see that things are rolling on the right side for once,” he said. “And yeah, you never know, right? That’s sports. A lucky bounce here or there can change a game in a hurry.”