THE BATTLEFORDS - The Notre Dame Hounds have taken the early lead on the Battlefords Stars in their AAA U18 hockey series.
The Hounds have a 1-0 lead heading to game two at Access Communications Centre at 7:30 p.m. on Monday.
The playoff matchup is between the number one versus number eight teams in the league, with the Hounds heavily favoured against a determined Stars team that had punched its playoff ticket with a win in the last game of the regular season.
Friday night, March 11, the Hounds took the first game of the series in Wilcox by a 5-2 score.
The Hounds took the lead early on goals from Ishan Mittoo-Khulbe and Luke Marshall in the first period. Dawson Gerwing responded for the Stars before the period ended.
In the second, Bryan Fenton made it 3-1, and then Cole Wirun scored on the power play midway through the period to make it 4-1. Kobie Anderson responded with his own power play goal to cut the gap to two.
But in the third, Mittoo-Khulbe scored his second of the night on the power play to wrap up the scoring on the night.
Should the Hounds beat the Stars Monday, they would be in a position to clinch the series back home in Wilcox Thursday, March 17.