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Central Alberta Rivalry

Vipers, Wranglers to face off in HJHL North Division Final

Mar 5, 2025 | 3:35 PM

The Red Deer Vipers and Sylvan Lake Wranglers are set to renew their rivalry this weekend.

Beginning Friday, the two teams will face off in the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) North Division Final with a chance to move on to the HJHL Final.

The best-of-five playoff series will begin with Game 1 in Sylvan Lake at the NexSource Centre this Friday at 8 p.m.

Game 2 will be in Red Deer at the Servus Arena on Monday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. followed by Game 3 on Friday, March 14 in Sylvan Lake at 8 p.m.

If needed, Game 4 will be played in Red Deer on Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m. and Game 5 on Sunday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the NexSource Centre.

The Vipers reached the North Final after eliminating the Mountainview Colts in Game 4 of their best-of-five series.

With a 2-1 series lead, Red Deer won the series with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Colts on March 1 in Carstairs, Alta.

Vipers forward Mason Sabasch scored the game-winning goal nearly seven minutes into the extra frame.

Meanwhile, the Wranglers won their series with ease.

They swept the Airdrie Techmation Thunder in the best-of-five series, winning all three games to advance. They won 4-2, 5-2, and finally 12-1 to move on.

The Wranglers hold home ice advantage over the Vipers since they claimed the number one seed in the north for the playoffs. The Vipers finished not too far behind this season as the second seed in the north.

The winner of the series will go on to face either the Medicine Hat Cubs or the CarStar Okotoks Bisons in the HJHL League Final. The Cubs and Bisons will play each other to determine the winner of the South Division Final.