Calgary Herald

04/15/2011 07:41:09 AM

The residents of Alberta can finally breathe a sigh of relief after TNT’s Wednesday night victory over Average Benders.  The win not only sealed the first seed heading into the month’s end tournament, but also gave TNT their first President’s Trophy in franchise history.  Clinching first place is a feat that TNT had a chance to secure for three weeks now but could not seem to muster up a win.  Prior to the game, the boys in black and orange were amidst their first three game losing streak of the season with consecutive losses to North Stars, Thunder and Average Benders.  A loss on Wednesday night would have extended the losing streak to 4 games, another franchise first.

“We had to come out with a sense of urgency.  April is playoff hockey and this team knows what it takes to go all the way.  By locking up first place, we just gave ourselves a better chance of winning it all,” said play-coach and GM Brian Long after the game.  Long, as well as all the other returning players from last year’s TNT squad, remembers the OT loss to North Stars last April.  “It’s something that has fueled this team all year.  Guys want to win it for each other, we feel like this has been our year since day one,” Long went on to add.  A source close to the team has indicated that Long still keeps the bottle of celebratory champagne from last year’s campaign.

TNT will play host to 5 Holes for the regular season finale this coming Sunday.  This season, TNT holds a 4-0 record versus the struggling club and a goal differential of +45.  If the trend continues, TNT will finish the regular season with 17 wins and 51 points.  “We just have to make the most of the these final games here to get ourselves ready for the tournament.  The other teams are going to be looking to knock us off, so we have to be prepared,” said forward Peter Vollbrecht.

Should the traditional tournament format be adopted from the previous seasons, TNT, along with the second place seed, will likely get a first round bye and then face the lowest seed remaining in the semi-finals.  Chances are they will have to go through Thunder or Team Lux to advance to the finals.  Sunday’s game versus 5 Holes is at 8:55pm.  Beer duty is TBD.

Notes:  …Defenseman Roland Baggot hands down had the hit of the game when he threw a pick on his own defensive partner, Shawn Fehr, in front of TNT’s net. …Forward Jim Fish returned to the line-up after serving a one-game, self-imposed suspension for his antics during the last match up with Average Benders. …This coming Sunday’s game will mark the 2010-11 home finale where the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive special TNT spit-resistant ponchos.