Following a month break from Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League action, the Prince Albert Northern Bears resumed their regular season slate this past weekend with a trifecta of games in Weyburn.
After a 3-2 overtime triumph on Friday and a 3-0 shutout loss to the host Gold Wings Saturday, the 2020 Esso Cup hosts wrapped up their visit at Crescent Point Place with a 5-0 victory Sunday afternoon.
Erin Kirkland and Kiara Stewart led the way for the Bears with a goal and an assist, while Janae Neufeld made 18 saves for her first career SFMAAAHL shutout.
Sophia Zuck, Emma Tremblay and Jasper Desmarais also scored for the visitors, who improved their record to 5-1.
Sunday’s game marked the return of Desmarais, Brooklyn Anderson and Paris Oleksyn to the lineup after they helped Saskatchewan win a silver medal at the Under-18 nationals a day earlier.
The Bears outshot the Gold Wings by a 27-11 margin Saturday, but they were unable to solve Chloe Burt as the former Battlefords Sharks netminder picked up her first clean sheet with Weyburn.
Sara Auchstaetter led the way for the hosts with a goal and an assist, with the other goals coming off of the sticks of Sydney Keddie and Dakota Bowler.
Zuck was the hero in Friday’s overtime victory for the Bears as she converted a pass from Lauren Willoughby with 30 seconds to go in the extra frame.
Kailey Ledoux and Haley Kicia also scored in the contest, which saw McKenzie Mayo dish out a pair of helpers and Neufeld make 27 saves.
Auchstaetter had both goals for the Gold Wings, who have a 2-7-1 record and are in sixth place in the league standings after the weekend series.
The Bears will return to the Art Hauser Centre Friday at 7 p.m. as they’ll start a two-game series with the 4-5 Sharks.
The rematch is set for 5 p.m. Saturday.
