For the third straight playoffs the Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) have captured the U16 Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) Western Championships.
Having finished first in the regular season, NAX (Devon, AB) would take on provincial rival Edge School (Calgary, AB), who had finished second during the regular season despite boasting a 4-2 record against NAX during the regular season.
Brock Souch (2G,1A) would open the scoring for NAX late in the first period when he deflected a Rhys Pederson (2A) shot past Benjamin Polhill (28/34).
Walker Overwater would score a power play goal just 3:22 into the second, and Cole Reschny (1G,1A) would score 44 second later as NAX grabbed a 3-0 lead.
But Devon Winder would score his fourth of the playoffs 1:45 later to give Edge some life. Josh Evaschesen would build off this for Edge, scoring just 50 seconds later to make it a 3-2 game.
However, the Edge comeback would end there as Kayden Longley (1G,1A) would score a breakaway goal just 3:02 into the third to make it 4-2 NAX. An Owen Berge (1G,3A) power play goal and Souch shorthanded marker would increase the lead to 6-2, with Dylan Ronald adding a late empty netter as NAX would claim a 7-2 victory. Spencer Michnik would make 27 saves for NAX in the win.
The championship was not awarded the past two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic but NAX had captured three U16 Western Championships in their four years competing in the division.