CANORA — In the third and deciding game of the Saskatchewan Female Hockey League south final in Canora on March 26, the visiting U15A Swift Current Colts came out on top over the Prairie Ice by a final score of 4 to 1, to take the series 2 games to 1. This came after the Colts won Game 1 at home 6-3, and then the Ice showed their ability to bounce back with a 4-1 win in Game 2 in Canora.
If the Ice players were nervous at the start of Game 1 in Swift Current on March 22, they didn’t show it. By just past the midway mark of the second period, the Ice had worked their way into a 2-1 lead. But the Colts replied with three goals before the end of the second period, and skated away with a 6-3 victory. The Ice did well on special teams, holding the Swift Current scoreless on four power play chances, and scoring twice on four power plays of their own. Goal scorers for the Ice were: Alaina Roebuck of Buchanan, Jessica Madsen of Theodore and Jenaya Stevenson of Cote First Nation. Assists came from Makayla Heshka of Canora and Marlee Sedor of Yorkton.
“We didn’t play our best, but we kept battling,” reported Ice Coach Ryan Hauber. “Swift Current is pretty relentless, they back checked and fore checked really strong and got stronger as the game went on.”
Game 2 shifted to Canora on March 25, with the Ice on the brink of elimination. But a first period goal by Haven Krawetz of Kamsack, assisted by Jordyn Seversen of Pelly, sent the home team on the way to a gutsy 4-1 victory to force the series to the limit. Jessica Madsen of Theodore scored two unassisted goals in the second period, including the winner. Emery Rogers of Foam Lake added an important insurance goal in the third period to wrap up the scoring, also unassisted.
“I felt that was our best game of the season,” said Hauber. “The girls skated well, defended well, did well in all aspects of the game.”
The puck dropped for Game 3 in Canora only about 18 hours later, and resulted in a 4 to 1 victory for the Colts. The quick turnaround seemed to hurt the Ice, who dressed 13 skaters and a goalie for the playoffs, while Swift Current took advantage of their depth, with 19 skaters and a goalie. Alaina Roebuck of Buchanan scored the only goal of the game for the Ice in the second period, with assists from Jessica Madsen of Theodore and Marlee Sedor of Yorkton to cut the deficit to 3-1. The goal came about a minute after goalie Brooke Taylor of Kamsack stopped a Colts breakaway to keep the Ice close.
“It would have been a different game if we could have scored the next goal, but unfortunately they made it 4-1 early in the third period,” said Hauber. “After a tough game the night before, we just couldn’t get rolling. It might have been fatigue; we weren’t quite as sharp. It wasn’t for a lack of trying, but we couldn’t get a bounce or a break.”
With about 10 seconds left in the game, and the series, Hauber called a timeout and delivered a message to his players.
“I just wanted to tell them that they did a great job, their effort was fantastic.”
Hauber said he thoroughly enjoyed coaching this group of players through the season.
“This group of girls were all awesome to work with, really fun, intense, willing to learn, all the players improved throughout the season. That’s why we did so well in the regular season and the playoffs,” concluded Hauber.
