The Central Plains Capitals' 2016-17 Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League season officially ended last night. They lost game three 3-2 to the Yellowhead Chiefs to be swept from the first round of the playoffs.

"Another one-goal game that was tight all the way," says head coach Brad Gnidziejko. "We didn't have the best start again. After the second period, the boys chatted and we zeroed in on what we needed to do in the third, and we went out and outshot them 14-6. We had our chances and did everything but score. It's a hard thing to have to go through and a bitter pill to swallow, but I couldn't be more proud of how the boys finished off the game and worked through the series. To hold this team to one goal games three times in-a-row is something they should be proud of."

Yellowhead grabbed the lead halfway through the first period. Eric Lemoine scored an even-strength marker at 11:27 with Jaxon Heeney grabbing the assists. The shots were 13-9 in favour of the Chiefs.

The second saw both teams find the back of the net. Central Plains was first. Jaxon Blight lit the lamp 31 seconds in to tie the game at one. Ryan Heino made it 2-1 Yellowhead 13 minutes later, Benoit Mowbray registered the only other point on the play.

The Caps found themselves down a man early in the third, but things worked out in their favour. Reilly Funk tied it at two while on the penalty kill. Just when it seemed things were tipping in the Caps' favour, Heino scored his second of the night to make it 3-2 three minutes later. Mowbay and Cole Muir picked up assists on the play. The Caps pushed back with everything they had but they couldn't knot the game at three to force overtime. Both teams battled after the final buzzer with Jayson Brooks and Reilly Funk each getting roughing minors to end the game, along with Yellowhead's Aidan Woodley and Mackenzie Belinski. 

"Overall I'm very happy with how the season went," admits Gnidjiezko. "40 games with this group, and to see how far they came, and the things we overcame to get where we are today was absolutely amazing. It's never fun to bow out in three straight in the playoffs but we faced a very, very good team who was playing very well at the time. For that reason, we're very happy, but it's not the way you want to go."

"We've got a young group here, a great core, and great veterans that will move onto good things," he adds. "The adversity they faced late in the season, to see how they pulled together for each other, that was the rewarding thing. All players at every level make mistakes, and they can be costly, but the team was always there to pick them up and support them through it. I couldn't be more proud of them all. Very exciting to see them come together like they did."