The Bulldogs had a rec room reserved just for them at their hotel in Regina, and it was there the players played video games and ping-pong, and bonded even more after a long, succesful season. Another highlight of their week in Regina was a tour of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police academy that featured some simulated high-speed car chases.
Entwistle notched one goal and one assist for Hamilton, which won two of its four games. The Bulldogs reached the Cup semifinal, but lost to host Regina, 4-2. Hamilton trailed, 2-1, after two periods and outshot Regina, 22-5, in the final 20 minutes.
"We felt good heading into that game," Entwistle said. "We lost our first game (also to Regina) and I think we all knew that we didn't play our best game. I think it was more of a feeling-out process. But as the tournament went on, we won our next two and we played well as a team. In that last game against Regina, we kind of knew what to expect and we played well again. We just couldn't buy a goal. It was frustrating."
Entwistle, whom the Coyotes drafted 69th overall in 2017, notched 19 points (11 goals, eight assists) in 25 post-season games.
"I thought I played well (at the Memorial Cup)," Entwistle said. "I was OK in the first game, and obviously we had a couple close, tight games where we kind of had to buckle down in the 'D' zone and do that sort of thing, but I thought I got better as the tournament went on."
The City of Hamilton, Ontario, honored the Bulldogs by hosting a rally for them this week, and Mayor Fred Eisenberger presented the players, coaches and team management with civic trophies. It was a pleasant end to a long season in which the Bulldogs played 93 games.
"That was great," Entwistle said. "For us to fall short at the Memorial Cup and then come home and go to that rally and have a couple hundred fans there in downtown Hamliton, it meant so much to us, and it just goes to show how far junior hockey has come in the past three years in Hamilton ... We didn't come home as winners, but we still felt like we were champions at that rally with all of those fans. It was an awesome experience."
Entwistle said he now plans to rest and recover for a few weeks before starting his training for next season. His plan is to get stronger and improve his skating stride this summer. He's expected to attend the Coyotes Prospect Development Camp soon after the 2018 NHL Draft.
