Former Senators Cup organizer and PBCN Stars forward Korey Diehl won the title for the first time on Sunday at the Art Hauser Centre. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D’Andrea

The Real Diehl

Former Senators Cup organizer wins cup as player with PBCN Stars

Mar 27, 2022 | 9:57 PM

Back when he used to organize the Senators Cup, Korey Diehl had only touched the cup in that capacity. He had transported the cup, presented to winners, and held it for promotional photoshoots, but he never held it as one of its winners.

But as he dropped the organizer label this tournament, Diehl finally got to hold the cup over his head Sunday night at the Art Hauser Centre as his Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Stars defeated the Sandy Lake Chiefs 2-0.

“Being a [former] organizer and putting on events like this, it’s always nice that my staff support me. They know I’ve been trying to chase this, winning this little cup of ours here in the city of Prince Albert—the Senators Cup,” said Prince Albert’s Diehl. “We’ve had chances to win it. For them to support me and let me step away from that position to let me have this opportunity this weekend, I’m grateful for it and happy for all the guys.

In the final game, Stars forward Robbie Custer thought he broke the deadlock with 3:04 left in the second period, after putting the puck in on a wraparound. But instead, the officials sent Custer’s linemate Tyler Bird to the penalty box for goaltender interference. Just as the ensuing penalty was expiring down, Skylar Olsen stripped the puck in his own zone and found a streaking Darian Clarke for a shorthanded breakaway. Clarke scored with an accurate wrist shot, beating Chiefs goaltender Joe Young on the blocker side. That gave the Stars a narrow 1-0 advantage after the first period, which ended up being the game-winner.

“It really got the boys going,” said Clarke, who was also named as the tournament’s Top Forward. “Skylar made a nice play there, I yelled for it and got the puck and—I don’t know, I just shot and hoped it went in. It was pretty awesome. We came second a few times, so it’s so nice to finally win the tourney. So nice to finally get the ‘W’ in front of our own fans and family. It’s pretty awesome.”

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Prince Albert’s Darian Clarke scored a crucial shorthanded goal late in the second period, to lift his Stars to the Senators Cup championship. (Jeff D’Andrea/paNOW Staff).

Chris Wilson, who proudly wore number 69, made it 2-0 with just over five minutes left in the third period. Stars defenceman Josh Roach slithered through checks in the neutral zone, played it to his left for Skylar Olsen, who sent it cross-crease for Wilson to tap in.

Both goaltenders in the game split the tournament’s Top Goaltender award. Stars’ Devon Buffalo, who had a 20-save shutout, shared the award with Chiefs goaltender Joe Young.

Stars defenceman Curtis Roach won the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award, while Chiefs defender Parker Thomas won the Top Defenceman Award.

The Stars didn’t lose a game in the weekend, as they also beat the Chiefs in the semifinals after they defeated the Norway House Bruins, the Crosslake Islanders, and the Ni-Hiyawak Warriors.

The Round Lake Bears from Ochapowace won the bronze medal. They made it to the B-side finals, falling to the Chiefs 4-2.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW