
The Prince Albert Northern Bears picked up a weekend split against the top two teams in the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL).
Prince Albert defeated the Saskatoon Stars 5-2 at the Art Hauser Centre on Saturday night before falling 3-1 on the road to the Battlefords Sharks on Sunday afternoon.
Bears head coach Steve Young says Prince Albert played well against the two teams at the top of the league standings.
“I thought the weekend was a good challenge that way. Both teams are very good hockey clubs. I thought on Saturday night that we started slow, but we managed our way through the game. I thought by the third period, we were playing a style-up game that we needed to play to come up with the win.”
In Saturday’s game, a strong third period was just what the Bears ordered on home ice against Saskatoon.
The Stars took the lead with 4:46 left in the opening frame as Mikayla Broadfoot would open the scoring. Kolbee Ashe and Shayla Koroll assisted on the play.
Zoey Krienke would respond for the Bears with just 22 seconds to go in the opening period. Mikiya Anderson and Addison Davidge picked up the helpers.
Rowan Clement would give Prince Albert the lead with a power play goal just over five minutes into the second period. Jersie Andersen and Olivia Trann assisted on the play.
Kolbee Ashe would tie the game for Saskatoon just over thirty seconds later. Maggie Freeman and Claire Moorman provided the helpers.
Prince Albert would pull away in the third period as three goals from Jordyn Fidler, Jersie Andersen and Marly Dumanski would help seal the victory.
The Bears had five different goal scorers in the contest. Young says Prince Albert needs to be able to play well as a team to find success.
“The team that we’ve put together this year is a team that we have to play by committee and whether that’s in our zone, in the neutral zone, or in the offensive zone. That includes everybody contributing to our hockey club in the goal department as well.”
In Sunday’s contest, Prince Albert wouldn’t be able to overcome a three goal second period for the Sharks in a 3-1 loss.
League leading scorer Danika Dureau had a goal and two assists in the period for the Sharks.
Marly Dumanski would bring Prince Albert within two with a short handed goal late in the third period.
Young says Prince Albert played a good game against a Battlefords opponent who has only lost one game in regulation all season.
“It was one of those games going into it you know they’re a top team, they get a lot of shots on that, the biggest thing once again is managing how we play against them. I thought in the first period, we did very well and did what we needed to do. In the second period, the top scorer got away from us and put some points up in the second. We did respond in the third and once again, very proud of the girls for showing their character and continuing to build as a hockey team down the playoff stretch here.”
Prince Albert returns to action on Feb. 8 when they take on the Battlefords Sharks on the road. Puck drops at 5 p.m.