The Cochrane Chaos may have faced a different northern rival in the Alberta Junior Female Hockey League championship but the results were similar.

The Edmonton Wolves are the league champion after sweeping a best-of-five series three straight. After winning both games in Cochrane, Mar. 17 and 18, the Wolves won the championship on their home ice, 2-1, on Mar. 23.

The Chaos tied up the game 1-1 early in the second but the Wolves got the game-winner later in the same period.

Chaos head coach Derek Loomer says the Wolves had a good game plan and stuck with it.

"They frustrated us on their defensive side and goaltending and they got the couple breaks they needed to win. I felt I like I was playing old Calgary Flames where they worked hard and happen to get a lead then just sit back and grid you and take away all those opportunities and Kiprusoff would stop any chance that you actually got."

The Chaos did have their chances, including a breakaway early in the third, but weren't able to capitalize.

"It was a little bit frustrating. You could just feel the air going out of the tires."

The Cochrane Chaos won the south division after staging a comeback against the Central Alberta Amazons. They downed the Calgary Jag in the opening series.

Last year the Chaos faced the Sherwood Park Steele in the league championship and fell three straight.

Still, with two championship series appearances in its three-year history, the club has much to be proud of and look eagerly towards the future.

"It's another one of those learning lessons as you build towards future championships," says Loomer.

"I thought it was a great season. For the most part, we were very consistent throughout the year. The girls stuck together and battled and they all really enjoyed each other and enjoyed being at the rink and at the games."

The Chaos had a number of its leading goal scorers in the south top 10 this season. Audrey Buston had a 37-point season, scoring 22 goals. Faith Gette and Ryann Altwasser also made the top 10, as did Cochrane's Jenna Wasylik, who played for the Calgary Jag this season.

Two players are aging out: team captain Aspen Kozak and Elizabeth Wong. While some may not be able to return due to other commitments they have a strong core to build around for the 2019-20 season.

Western Showcase

Up next is the annual AJFHL showcase being hosted in Ardrossan, in the Edmonton area. It was held in Cochrane last spring. AJFHL teams, midget players and a Chinese team from the Harbin Sports University will be playing a series of exhibition games. It doubles as an opportunity to see some prospects in action.

It's the May spring camp, though, that will give the Chaos a better idea of potential new recruits, says Loomer.

"We'll be getting girls out to the camp to see our program and see their interests. That's really where we'll try to lock down the players we'd like to play for us next season."

It's followed by a fall camp in early September.

Support appreciated

The Chaos have been fortunate to have a number of generous sponsors to help ice the team, says Loomer.

"I think we have a very good group that has been supportive since day one and some new ones that have stepped in as different players have joined the team."

Much of that is has been made possible by board members and volunteers who have stepped forward to help promote the team, something Loomer full appreciates.

He also continues to be impressed with the arena staffs at both the SLS Family Sports Centre and Cochrane Arena and with the support of Cochrane Minor Hockey.

"The facility staff have been amazing and treat us extremely well and really help us enjoy our ice when we are there and make everything work smoothly for us. It's an amazing group and they do such a great job with minor hockey and with us and the Generals. We really appreciate that."

He appreciates the scheduling completed by Shelley Javorsky, of Cochrane Minor Hockey.

"It's a thankless job and she does a really good job of helping us out and we help her out when we can."