The Prairie Ice Female U15A hockey team is on a roll, sweeping through the first three playoff series in the minimum of six games, including a sweep of the Parkland Fire of Melville in the South East Division final.
Game one in Melville on March 15, a 2-1 win for the Ice, was a defensive battle according to head coach Ryan Hauber. All the scoring took place in the second period, with the Ice potting the first two goals and the Fire responding late in the period. Goal scorers for the Ice were Jordyn Seversen of Pelly and Jessica Madsen of Theodore, both unassisted. It was a relatively cleanly played game, with each team assessed only three minor penalties.
“They took it to us in the first period,” said Hauber “They outshot us by about 8 or 10 shots, but we kept it scoreless heading into the second. Our goalie Brooke Taylor played well all game. In the second period we started to move the puck better and scored two quick ones. Then in the last 20 minutes we played solid defence.”
The Ice won the series with a Game 2 victory in Canora on March 18 by a 5-1 score, thanks to a fast start where they scored two goals in the first three minutes. The teams traded goals in the second period, and the Ice added two insurance goals in the third.
Haven Krawetz of Kamsack and Emery Rodgers of Foam Lake led the way on offence with two goals each. Jordyn Seversen of Pelly was the other goal scorer, opening the scoring early in the first period, and also adding one assist. Jenaya Stevenson of Cote First Nation was the top playmaker with two assists, while Katherine Hauber and Makayla Heshka of Canora, and Jessica Madsen of Theodore each added singles.
The home team was only assessed three minor penalties, while the Fire picked up six minors and a ten-minute misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct. Brooke Taylor of Kamsack was once again the winning goalie.
“Our girls were definitely ready for Game 2 in our home rink,” said Hauber. “When we scored two quick ones early in the first period, they were really pumped. Then we got a bit sloppy, but got better in the second. We definitely played our best period by far in the third, our players were relentless.”
Hauber said he likes where his team is at heading into the best-of-three south final against the Swift Current Colts, the South West Division playoff champions.
“We’re playing well as a team, it seems like we have different goals scorers all the time. Defensively we’re also playing well, giving up very few goals against.”
Like the Ice, Hauber said the Colts have also been on a roll in the early playoff rounds.
“They’re a deep team, they play four lines and have a full roster. It’s going to be a tough series.”
After Game 1 in Swift Current, the series will shift to the Canora Civic Centre for Game 2 on Friday (March 25).
