There wasn’t a lot of joy at the Rec Plex on Saturday after Kootenay’s 4-1 loss, but the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ dressing room had plenty.

Happiest among them were a couple of local lads who’d just played the final game in Cranbrook of their junior careers.

Overagers Carter Bancks of Marysville and Cranbrook’s Dustin Donaghy were thrilled with the outcome.

“It was nice to finish off my career in this building getting a win,” said Donaghy, who was in the starting lineup with Bancks.

Bancks, the team captain, said the feeling of jubilation was a nice change for the 19-39-8 club.

“It’s awesome. We get to watch a movie on the way home on the bus. It hasn’t happened a lot for us on the road. It’s going to be a good trip back,” he said.

The pair won’t be playing in the playoffs as 20-year-olds, and have found themselves looking back on their hockey careers recently.

“It wasn’t so much at the beginning of the year, but now that it’s ending I stay awake at night remembering each trip, where we stay and what we do. It’s a little upsetting,” said Donaghy, who will miss sharing laughs with his teammates and the competitive nature of major junior hockey.

“Now it’s time for the real world.”

“I was sitting out on that bench before the game and just thinking about two years ago, we had that playoff series with (Kootenay),” said Bancks. “We were able to come out on top. A couple of games, it hasn’t gone our way; we’ve kind of got it handed to us. There’s a lot of memories you think about: driving on the bus, driving into different arenas. I’d like to thank the Lethbridge organization, they’ve treated me incredibly well and I’ve had a heck of a time.”

Bancks played his entire WHL career as a Hurricane, while Donaghy was traded there from Spokane at the beginning of this season.

Before acquiring Donaghy, Bancks said the club approached him to get a read on his former bantam and Kimberley Dynamiters’ teammate.

They enjoyed leading a youthful bunch this year, and aren’t focusing on next year quite yet.

“I’m just into playing as hard as I can for this team for the last six games of my career. It’s funny to say that, but that’s all that’s we’ve got left,” said Bancks.

“We’re playing for pride now. We’re kind of playing the spoiler, trying to upset teams that are in the playoff race. It’s a different position to be in, but we’re going to do everything we can to come out with as many wins by the end of the season.”