Having made it all the way to the U18C provincial final, the Kerrobert KDL Rage are hoping to keep their winning streak alive and win that elusive banner. The Rage won their first game of the northern final 5-3 in Outlook. In Kerrobert for game 2 March 14, the Ice Hawks pressed hard and were able to end the game with a 4-4 tie but, in the two-game series format, the early win for the Rage means they won the series.
The Rage will have home rink advantage for the provincial final series, travelling to Cupar to play the Canucks in game 1, March 22. The Kerrobert/Dodsland/Luseland team plays game 2, at home in Kerrobert, March 26 at 7:30 p.m, and 3 if necessary immediately after. Their hometown crowd have the potential to see the Rage crowned provincial champions.
Despite taking an early 1-0 lead in their must-win U15B northern final second game at home, the Unity Lazers were unable to keep the Hague Royals at bay, and it was the Royals who came up with a 4-2 win to advance to the provincial final.
Scoring a short-handed goal for the Lazers halfway through the first was Bennett Bretzer, unassisted. The Royals tied the game before the end of the period and then had a 3-1 lead by the end of the second. With 10:14 remaining in the third, the Royals made it 4-1.
Some three minutes later, Preston Volk, assisted by Lincoln Gaiger and Dayne Rusk, brought the Lazers to within two. Despite pulling goalie Lennon Crier for the last couple of minutes, the Lazers were unable to get the puck past Jackson Friesen of the Royals. Lennon faced 30 shots in the game, stopping 26 of them.
In U18D provincials, the Delisle Bruins came to Macklin for game 2 of the northern final prepared to play. The first game had ended in a 2-2 tie, and Delisle won the second game 7-2, so the Mohawks will not advance to the provincial final.
In girls’ provincial hockey, the U13A Western Prairie Wildcats playing the Warman Wildcats No. 1 team in the northern final were in Macklin March 14 for game 2, after game 1 ended in a 0-0 tie. It was the Warman Wildcats who found the back of the net to win the game 1-0, ending the west central team’s provincial dreams.