The Morris Mavericks are Zone 4 High School Hockey League champions for the fourth time.

Justin Keck and Cody Clark scored two goals each as the Mavericks defeated the Garden Valley Zodiacs 6-2 Thursday night in Winkler.

Morris swept the best-of-three final in two straight games.

"I think we just outbattled them," said Mavericks captain Stanley Storck when asked what the difference was in game two. "We really put it all on the line as soon as we felt that we were getting close. Everybody beared down and finished it off."

Maxime Collette and Daniel Issak also scored for the Mavs.

Collette was named the playoff MVP and explained why the newly crowned Zone 4 champions reeled off six straight wins in the playoffs.

"We had four solid lines that just kept going. We had good players all around. We all worked hard, we're a good scoring team and good defence. We got it done."

Vitali Penner and Ryan Krahn did the goal scoring for the Zodiacs who cut the Mavericks lead to 2-1 and went on the power-play when the visitors were called for too many men on the ice with 3:48 left in the middle period.

Then for the second game in row defensive zone breakdowns proved costly for GVC.

The Zodiacs, who surrendered two late second period goals in the series opener Tuesday night in Morris, watched Keck and Clark score shorthanded goals 36 seconds apart, and in just over half-a-minute the Mavericks extended their lead from 2-1 to 4-1.

"We talked about how Morris is a little bit aggressive on the penalty kill," said Garden Valley head coach Keith Bially. "You can't take anything away from them. They were relentless on the penalty kill and they made a couple of good skilled plays. Our guys were working hard, doing what we want to do on the power-play but they got some skilled players and they took advantage of their opportunities shorthanded."

 

 

Mavericks goaltender Sean Penner made 26 saves in game two while Zodiacs netminder Nick Toews faced 29 shots.

It's the first title for the Mavericks since the 2011-2012 season when they won their third straight championship.

"We have a real good group of guys and we're lucky that they're blessed with a lot of skill," said Morris head coach Barry Lewis as he watched his players celebrate on the ice. "Our leaders have tremendous drive. They want to get better every day and they set the standard for what we have to do. Championship teams have good leaders and this group cares about one another."

Next up for the Mavericks is the Provincial AA High School Hockey Championship which takes place March 7th, 8th & 9th in Cartwright.

The Zodiacs will compete at the Provincial AAAA championship at Bell MTS Iceplex in Winnipeg.