After conceding a power play goal in the first period, the Prince Albert Northern Bears ran the Weyburn Gold Wings out of the Art Hauser Centre Sunday afternoon.
In the second game of a weekend series to kick off the 2018-19 Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League season, the Bears dominated their opposition as they cruised to a 13-1 win to improve to 2-0 on the campaign.
“I really thought our girls competed in hard both games,” said Bears assistant coach Gord Hobson, who filled in for Jeff Willoughby this weekend as he serves a two-game suspension over a player registration issue stemming from a tournament in Calgary earlier this month.
“We were a little bit sloppy Saturday (in a 6-0 win) but we really got our heads up today. We made some good plays out there and I’m really happy with how everything ended up.”
Kate Ball led the way for the Bears offensive attack with two goals and four assists, while Jadyn Kushniruk picked up her first career Midget AAA hat trick.
“They are both very smart hockey players,” Hobson said. “Kate has the puck on her stick a lot, but what I really liked today is that she shot the puck. I think she has one of the better shots in the league, but she doesn’t use it enough.
“You know what you get out of Jadyn every game. She’s always in the proper position out there and she was in the right spot to put the puck in the net today.”
Paris Oleksyn had a goal and three assists in the win, while Abby Soyko scored once and dished out two helpers.
Haley Kicia, Sophia Zuck, Miranda Heidt, Sienna Danielson and Kailey Ledoux also scored for the Bears, who received a 25-save performance from Scout Anderson.
Payton Mabee had the lone goal for the 0-2 Gold Wings.
Amara Lwendeson got the start for the visitors and made 30 saves in 40 minutes of work, while Daneka Dickson stopped 12 shots in the third period.
The Bears will head out on the road next weekend for a pair of games against the Battlefords Sharks.
Willoughby will be back behind the bench for both contests, which marks the start of an eight game road swing for the team.
They will return to the Art Hauser Centre on Saturday, Nov. 24 to take on the Swift Current Wildcats.
