The Tigers hockey team has officially entered the post-season and, for NACI, that means taking part in both the Provincial Qualification and Westman High School Hockey League (WHSHL) playoffs. The Tigers are the defending champions of both titles. In the Provincial Qualification playoffs, the Tigers are currently one game away from clinching a berth in to the 2013 MHSAA “AA” Provincial Championship. NACI defeated Russell's Major Pratt Trojans 6-3 in the opening game of their best-of-three series in the WHSHL's North Bracket of provincial qualification. Trent Nelson and Riley Kolesar both had a goal apiece while Garett Rempel and Matthew Sneesby scored the Tigers other markers. Wyatt Salmon, Rempel, Sneesby, Kolesar and McDonald all registered an assist. The next game will be hosted by the Trojans and the third game - if necessary - is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 28 in Neepawa. Meanwhile, in the WHSHL playoffs, the top-seeded NACI was scheduled to play its opening game in a best-of-three series against the eighth-seeded Minnedosa Chancellors this past Friday. The second game of the series was scheduled to be held this past Monday at 2 p.m. in Neepawa. While scores weren't available by an early press deadline Friday, coach Mike Adams said fans could expect a high-intensity series between the two teams. “There has been a healthy rivalry every time we play that goes back to the minor hockey days,” Adams said Friday. “We know that Minnedosa will be bringing everything they have and we have to be ready for them. “The biggest challenge will be the fact we haven't had very meaningful practices in February because of the Safeway Championship, but we're back home now and have had a really good week.” The coach also knows the key to his team's success in both playoff series will be getting contributions from every player in the lineup. “The biggest key for us in the playoffs is to have everyone playing their best hockey at this time of the year,” Adams explained. “Lots of people comment on how deep our team is, and we need to use that to our advantage.”