By WAYNE SHIELS
Three area AA hockey teams are moving on to the next round in provincial playoffs.
U18AA FEMALE WILDCATS
The old barn was full for game one of the U18AA North final of the Saskatchewan Female Hockey League on Wednesday, March 12.
After a scoreless first period, Warman poured the pressure on in the second period and were rewarded with a pair of goals by Anika Crawford. Prince Albert’s Nevaeh Bird-Clark found the twine on a well-executed two-on-one break. Macey Clarkson fired a laser from the slot to restore Warman’s two goal lead with only two seconds left in the period.
The visitors did not go away quietly. Goals by Navaeh Bird-Clark and Rylee Jensen sent the game into overtime. Jadyn Bossaer’s unassisted marker gave the home team the hard-earned victory.
Game two on March 14 in Prince Albert was more of the same. After much back and forth action Anika Crawford’s powerplay marker broke the deadlock halfway through the second period.
Emmerson Tasdad added to Warman’s lead early in the third period. Prince Albert responded with a goal by Jordyn Schrader. Isla Stoddart-Reis scored a very important insurance tally midway through the third period and Warman held on for the 3-1 victory.
The win propelled the Wildcats into the provincial finals against the Southeast Goldwings.
U13AA WILDCATS
The second round of U13AA playoffs between the Warman Wildcats and the North West Stars went the distance.
North West took game one 8-6. Ethan Schmidt led the way for Warman scoring four goals. Reid Kahovic and Beckett Campbell added singles.
Warman came away with a 7-2 victory in game two in Battleford. They fired 42 shots at the Stars goaltender. Covey Markus and Beckett Campbell each scored a pair of goals, while Rylan Bergen, Ethan Schmidt and Hayden Scollo chipped in singles. Blake Hill was solid in net making 34 saves.
Both teams came to play at Warman Diamond Arena on Sunday, March 16 in the deciding game. Warman carried the early pressure aided by three North West penalties.
North West got on the board first scoring on a five on three powerplay advantage.
They added to their lead early in the second period. Warman’s Beckett Campbell cut the lead in half by coming out of the corner and roofing a shot. Casen Featherstone buried the puck from a mad scramble in front of the Stars goaltender to tie the game before the end of the second period.
Reid Kahovec’s slap shot from the point on the powerplay gave the home team the lead early in the third period. Beckett Campbell sealed the deal with an empty net goal.
With the win Warman advances to round three of the Consolation Final where they play the West Central Wheat Kings.
U18AA MARAUDERS
Round two of the U18AA playoffs between the Martensville Marauders and Saskatoon Riverkings also went the distance.
Game one at the Martensville Sports Centre on March 12 was a goaltendering classic. Martensville’s Josh Olsen made 51 saves in the 3-0 win. Dalton Friesen scored late in the second period and Grady Stoddart-Reis and Tyler Hale added empty netters.
The Riverkings won game two 4-3 at the Merlis Belsher Spectator Arena in Saskatoon on Saturday, March 15. Tyson Janzen had a pair of goals for the Marauders and Clark Goebel added a single for the Marauders.
In the deciding game in Martensville on Sunday, March 16 the Marauders were on fire, peppering the Riverkings goaltender with 37 shots in a 8-4 win. Clark Goebel, Parker Livingstone, Tyler Hale each scored a pair of goals and Kohen Pierce and Grady Stoddart-Reis netted singles.
The Martensville Marauders now move on to face the Saskatoon Sabercats in the Centre Four Division finals.