The Canora Cobra 2004/05 season was one of ups and downs. The season started off with high hopes, along with the goal of achieving the franchise’s first ever championship. What a ride it was!! Here is a retrospective look back on the historical Canora Cobra 2004-05 season.
December 17/04
The unbeaten Theodore Buffalos made their first visit to Canora to face the 4-2 Cobras. GX94’s Terry Struthers and the voice of the Phoenix Coyotes, Curt Keilback, broadcasted the game live on radio. The Cobras got off to a poor start and never recovered, falling 9-4 to the Buffs. Jason Baptist had the hat trick for the Cobras, while Brayden Pollon scored the other goal. Suspended Cobra, Charlie Keshane was interviewed during the intermission and admitted to Struthers, “Terry, this isn’t the first time that I’ve been suspended and I guarantee it won’t be the last time.” Keilback mentioned that the difference in this game was the confidence of the Buffalos: “The Buffalos gain the Cobra blue line expecting to score a goal. The Cobras hit the Buffalo blue line just hoping to score.” Dwayne Boddy got his 7th consecutive start in the Cobra net and did his best to keep the Cobras in the game. As Keilback put it, “Dwayne Boddy is really putting his body on the line for the Cobras.” Darryl Dickson and the Buffs’ Garrett Varga exchanged blows in a third period scrap.
December 18/04
Another poor start on home ice proved to be the Cobra downfall as they dropped an 8-6 decision to the Kelvington Wheat Kings. The Cobras scored all 6 of their goals in the second period, but were outscored 7-0 in periods one and three. Dana Keshane made his Cobra debut. Brayden Pollon scored twice before being ejected after picking up a major penalty for checking from behind. Only seconds before, a Wheat King had broken his stick after a cross check to the back of Pollon’s head! Matt Lamb, Kelly Longley, Ian Yaholnitsky, and Dana Keshane scored singles. Longley dropped the mitts with Robin Boleski in the dying minutes of the game.
December 26, 2004
The Cobra mid-season slump continues as they lose their 4th out of the last 5 games. The Cobras made their annual Boxing Day trek to Preeceville and came out on the wrong end of a 6-3 score. Greg Olson’s hat trick led the Pat attack. Darren Schwartz scored twice and Kelly Longley added the other. The Cobras played without regulars Jason Baptist, Darryl Dickson, Brayden Pollon, Bryan Heshka, Charlie Keshane, and Drew Werboweski. However, the Cobras welcomed Scott Marchinko back into the lineup. Marchinko rejoined the Cobras after a one month stint with the Avonlea Arrows of the Highway Hockey League. A post-game blowup in the Cobra dressing room proved to be the Cobra wakeup call and perhaps the turning point of the season.
December 28, 2004
Kelly Longley’s final game as a single man (he got married on New Year’s Day) proved to be a successful one as the Cobras broke out of their mid-season slump with an 8-4 victory in the second game of a home and home series with the Preeceville Pats. Longley scored twice and added an assist to lead the Cobra charge. Dana Keshane showed the Cobras what they could expect of him down the stretch run as he scored twice and added 4 assists. Darren Schwartz also scored twice, while Scott Marchinko and Darryl Dickson scored once each. The Cobras fired 49 shots on the Pat net. The game featured the debut of Cobra goaltender Kevin McGonigal, who stopped 26 of 30 shots. McGonigal gave some relief for Dwayne Boddy, who had played in every single minute of every game thus far this season.
January 8, 2005
The “Year of the Cobra” began with a bang as the Cobras made the cold trip to Springside and left town with a 7-1 victory. After a year-long SHA mandated suspension, Dale Spelchen made his return to the Cobras. It took only 6:49 for Spelchen to get on the scoresheet as he gave the Cobras the early lead. Also, putting on the Cobra jersey for the first time was Sean Raison. Raison also didn’t take long in making his presence felt, scoring on a second-period breakaway. Spelchen would add another goal, while Jason Baptist, Matt Lamb, Darren Schwartz, and Mike Fedorak would also score. Dwayne Boddy made 21 of 22 saves for the win in goal.
January 9, 2005
The Cobras made their second cold-weather trip in as many days, as they ventured out to Kelliher for a Sunday afternoon game. This game would prove to be one of the most exciting games of the season – both on and off the ice – but it was the Cobras who would hold on for a 6-5 victory. It was “St. Jason The Baptist” leading the way as “Big Bear” netted four goals for the Cobras. Sean Raison and Dale Spelchen added the other goals. Dwayne Boddy stopped 22 shots for the win. The Komets made the game interesting when Warren Bashutski scored with less then a minute remaining in regulation time. The Komets pressed, but Boddy shut the door. The game ended with more excitement as Spelchen dropped the mitts with Mike Nowasad. As Spelchen left the ice surface, he was blind-sided by a punch by a fan.
January 14, 2005
The Cobras won their fourth game in a row over a depleted Wadena Wildcat squad, 9-2. The Wildcats were only able to dress 10 skaters. The Cobras took it to the Cats early, jumping out to a 5-0 lead only 12 minutes into the game. Darren Schwartz and Graham Lamb each scored twice, while Dale Spelchen, Scott Marchinko, Matt Lamb, Ian Yaholnitsky, and Kelly Longley scored singles. Longley “conveniently” returned to the lineup after missing last weekend’s cold weather games while he was in Mexico on his honeymoon! Yaholnitsky hit the showers early after picking up 3 stick infraction penalties and a game ejection. Ironically, Charlie Keshane returned from his month-long suspension to face off against the Wildcats – the very team he played against when picking up the suspension. But, the Cobras lost the services of Darryl Dickson. The former Flin Flon Bomber suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Dwayne Boddy only needed to make 17 saves to get the win.
January 15, 2005
It was the rematch everyone was waiting for. The Cobras returned to Kelliher only one week after Dale Spelchen was attacked by a fan. The Cobras loaded up a bus and took along half of Canora to fill up the Kelliher stands. The Cobras responded with a 6-2 hard-fought victory. Spelchen scored twice, with Darren Schwartz, Jason Baptist, Scott Marchinko, and Ryan Kitchen scoring singles. The rematch was a penalty filled affair with the Cobras picking up 58 minutes in penalties, with the Komets accumulating 60 minutes. Kelly Longley squared off with the Komets’ Jeremy Kew, while Schwartz took on Warren Bashutski. Bryan Heshka came to the defence of one of his teammates and was rewarded with a game ejection for accumulating 3 stick infractions on the night. Dwayne Boddy stopped 32 shots to continue his hot play in Kelliher, improving to 3-0 lifetime in the Kelliher Arena.
