(Dylan “Buddy” Key on the left being presented with a ‘Clark Park’ WPH Qualifying Jersey by Dr. James Bardwell)
WPH Press
The final WPH Icebreaker Contenders of the 2020/21 I season wrapped on Saturday, June 19th at Clark Park, with 10 hopefuls from Texas, Arizona, and Utah vying for one spot in the “Ice Bowl” Icebreaker Championship August 21-22 in Tucson.
MO State’s Matt Vollink entered the “Ice Bowl” Contenders as the top seed based on his success at the previous Contenders event. Vollink cruised to the semifinals to face Tucson’s Buddy Key, who had ousted SR48 pro Jesse Aranda in the quarterfinals.
Key entered the “Ice Bowl” Contenders seeking vengeance after being bounced in the first round of the previous Contenders by John Chapman. Key has dedicated himself to becoming an Icebreaker pro, playing the Tucson pros regularly in preparation for the season’s final opportunity to qualify.
Key dominated the number one seed to advance to the final, where the oldest qualifier in Race 4 Eight history, Leo Canales, Sr., awaited. Canales was also bounced in the opening round of the previous Contenders by Brian Williams and found himself on the brink of elimination in the opening round of the “Ice Bowl” Contenders, narrowly escaping the upset-minded Angel Estrella, 21-18. Canales had little difficulty in the semifinal, eliminating Phoenix’s Zach Gault to set up a clash with Key.
Canales and Key are separated by three decades, but both were seeking the same goal in the final – the Ice Bowl invitation. Canales led 15-10 in the one-game final to 21 but was unable to close the show, as Key scored 11 unanswered points for the biggest win of his career.
“I had a lot of fun and I’m really looking forward to the Ice Bowl in August,” exclaimed Key.
Special thanks to Ivan Lugo for running the Ice Bowl Contenders and to Scott Cleveland for cooking all of the delicious food for the players and fans.
Follow the Ice Bowl Contenders draw HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer