MFMHL PLAYOFF UPDATES
HAWKS COMPLETE COMEBACK - DEFEND CHAMPIONSHIP
EARN TRIP TO WEST REGIONALS
The Pembina Valley Hawks scored a 2-1 victory over the Westman Wildcats in Game 5 of the MFMHL Championship Series to claim the league tiltle and move on to represent Manitoba at Hockey Canada's West Region Championship vs. the Weyburn Gold Wings, Weyburn defeated the first place Regina Rebels 3 games to 1 in the Saskatchewan "AAA" Championship.
Led by Captain Lauryn Keen who scored the game winner on the power play and added an assist on the Hawks' first goal scored by Chelsea Dearsley Pembina Valley was able to defend their MFMHL and Provincial "AAA" Midget Championship after being down 2-0 in the series to the Wildcats. Keen finished as the top point getter in the MFMHL Playoffs scoring 10 goals and adding 10 assists in 10 post games.
The Hawks built a 2-0 lead with 2 second period goals after a scoreless first period however the Wildcats responded when defense Melissa Hunt scored an unassisted goal late in the second period to set up a wild third period. The Wildcats would press for the equalizer eventually pulling their goalie but being unable to solve the tight Pembina Valley defense that limited Westman to 15 shots on goal. Corrine Schroeder picked up the win in net for the Hawks making 14 saves while Sky Brown who played ever minute in net for the Wildcats during 12 post season games stopped 22 of 24 shots in taking the loss.
The Championship Series was a fast paced skilled battle between 2 hard working talented teams that saw 4 games decided by 1 goal, 3 overtime games and two of those games being settled in double OT. It was the close to a MFMHL Season that was the most competitive in its history with 5 points separating the top 4 teams. With on 33 graduating players in the MFMHL this season and 15 already having post secondary commitments and some more pending this season has been a great one to date and things look bright for 2014-15.
The Hawks now travel to Weyburn, Sask. from April 4-6 for a best of 3 Regional Championship with the winner moving on to the 2014 Hockey Canada Esso Cup National Female Midget Championships April 20-26 in Stoney Creek/Hamilton Ontario.
CONGRATS TO THE WILDCATS AND THE ENTIRE MFMHL ON AN OUTSTANDING SEASON!
HAWKS SOAR BACK, FORCE GAME 5 WITH ANOTHER OT WIN
For the 3rd time in 4 games and 2nd game in a row the Pembina Valley Hawks and Westman Wildcats would go to Over Time to decide a game in their best of 5 MFMHL Championship Series. For the second game in a row the Pembina Valley Hawks would come away with a 3-2 win and have fought back from a 2-0 series deficit to force game 5 Sunday March 30 at 2:00 p.m. in Morden.
Defense Jenai Buchanan was the hero in double OT when her point shot bounced high in air off Westman goalie Sky Brown's stick before landing behind her and slowly rolling into the Wildcats' net to end the longest game in MFMHL history with 2 minutes and 42 seconds remaining in the 5th period. The two teams traded first period goals with Chloe Penner and Burgundy Thiessen scoring for the Hawks while Kenzie Robinson and Megan Robertson replied for the Wildcats. The two teams would go back and forth over the next 3 plus periods with each having quality chances to score. Corrine Schroeder would pick up the win in net for Pembina Valley after replacing Taylor Reimer after the first period. Schroeder would stop all 29 shots she faced in relief and for the second game in a row Sky Brown would lose in OT as she allowed 3 goals on 35 shots.
This will be the first time the MFMHL Final Series will head to a game 5. The Crowds have been excellent in both Hartney and Morden and the fans have been treated to fast skilled hockey between two evenly matched teams.
COME CATCH THE ACTION - SUNDAY MARCH 30 - MORDEN - 2:00 P.M.
HAWKS STAY ALIVE
The Defending Champion Pembina Valley Hawks kept their playoff hopes alive Wednesday night in Morden as Lauryn Keen scored her second goal of the game 7 minutes into the first OT period. Keen's goal gave the Hawks their first win of the series and cut the Westman Wildcats lead in the best of 5 MFMHL Final series to 2-1. Lindsey Michiels had the first Hawks goal while KJ Wallace and Kenzie Robinson replied for the Wildcats. Taylor Reimer stopped 29 of 31 shots fired her way to pick the win in net for the Hawks while Sky Brown took the loss stopping 34 of 37 shots the Hawks directed at the Wildcats net.
The two teams return to the ice for game 4 Friday March 28 in Hartney, puck drop is scheduded for 7:30 p.m. If necessary game 5 will be back in Morden on Sunday March 30 with game time set at 2:00 p.m.
WILDCATS ONE WIN AWAY FROM MFMHL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Westman Wildcats picked up a huge 4-1 win over the Pembina Valley Hawks in game 2 of the MFMHL Final Series giving them a commanding 2 games to 0 lead in their best of 5 series and moving them to within one win of claiming the Provincial "AAA" Female Midget Hockey Championship. Jaedon Cooke, Kjierstan Wallace, Ashton Bell and Megan Robertson scored for the Wildcats while Sky Brown was almost perfect stopping 27 of 28 shots. Kate Friesen scored the lone marker for the Hawks and Corrine Schroeder allowed 4 goals on 27 shots in picking up the loss in net. The series swings back to Morden on Wednesday March 26 where the defending champion Hawks will try to extend the series on home ice while the Wildcats will look to possibly pick up their first MFMHL Championship, game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
Wildcats Take Finals Opener
Ashton Bell scored the game winner in double OT in Morden Friday night to give the Westman Wildcats a 3-2 win and a 1-0 series lead over the defending champion Pembina Valley Hawks. The Wildcats also got goals from Melissa Hunt and Jaycee Magwood while Kate Friesen and Lauryn Keen replied for the Hawks. Sky Brown stopped 40 of 42 shots to pick up the win while Taylor Reimer stopped 31 of 34 shots fired at the Hawks net to take the tough loss.
The series now swings to Hartney on Sunday March 23 for game 2, Puck Drop is set for 2:00 p.m.
