The post-season was unfortunately short. After sweeping the Calgary Wranglers in round one, the Firebirds faced the Abbotsford Canucks. It was the first playoff match-up between the two teams.

For two years, Coachella Valley Firebirds fans watched lines packed with veterans filling up the goal. This year they watched lines full of young 20-somethings struggling to score.

He had scored two goals in Game 1 of the playoffs against Calgary and scored another in Game 2. But that April 26 game that clinched a first-round sweep of the Wranglers proved to be his last.

The game started on a high note for the Firebirds as Ryan Winterton, who had left the team to tend to a family matter and missed the Calgary series, was back and scored a goal 1:36 into the game.

He played very well in the two playoff games against Coachella Valley, especially in a triple overtime. However, the Firebirds took the series and the Wranglers were done by the end of April.

The Coachella Valley Firebirds lost 3-1 to the Abbotsford Canucks in Game 3 on Wednesday night. Firebirds fall 3-1 to Canucks in a pivotal Game 3. CV trails 2-1 in the series with their season on ...

Firebirds forward John Hayden (15), left, and forward Ian McKinnon (21) react after the 3-2 loss in an overtime shootout against the Colorado Eagles at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., on ...