Bears to return to home ice for first time since holiday break

The Prince Albert Northern Bears celebrate a goal during a home game earlier this season. Herald file photo.

After earning a road split last weekend in Notre Dame, the Prince Albert Northern Bears are looking forward to getting on home ice this weekend for the first time since the holiday break.

Head coach Steve Young says the Bears played well, despite losing one of the games.

“It was nice to get back on the ice and we played some good hockey there. We didn’t come out with the points we wanted, so we have to carry that into the rest of the week here.”

The Bears have a trio of games on the calendar this week, starting with a Thursday night contest at Merlis Belsher Place against the Saskatoon Stars. Prince Albert will return to Art Hauser Centre for a weekend series against the Weyburn Gold Wings on Saturday and Sunday.

With three games in four days, Young says the Bears will look to take advantage of the schedule.

“We’re hoping it helps us. We’ve had a lot of breaks during the year so when we got all these games this weekend, it keeps us in tune with the game. We know Saskatoon will be tough and Weyburn as well, but we are at home and that’s where we feel we play our best hockey.”

Starting with Saskatoon, the Bears have matched up with the Stars once this season back on Oct. 24 with Prince Albert taking home a 5-3 victory.

The Bears and Gold Wings have played each other twice this season with Weyburn (2-11-2-2) winning both matchups in regulation at Crescent Point Place on Oct. 5 and 6.

Despite Weyburn sitting last in the standings, Young says they can’t afford to take them lightly.

“They’re a team that works very hard. I think we got a balance in our league this year so we can’t take anybody for granted, we just have to be prepared to play them.”

Prince Albert currently sits in fifth place in the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL) standings with a 5-9-1-1 record on the season.

The Bears have nine rookie skaters on the team this season including leading scorer Jersie Andersen who has registered 17 points (8G, 9A) in 17 games this season.

Young says he wants to see the Bears have a strong second half with the younger players taking on key roles.

“I thought the first half they went through their growing pains of obviously moving to the city, different school, tougher league. In the second half here, we expect more from them.  I think if you look at our ‘09s right now, they’re contributing as much as they can for our hockey club.”

Puck drop between the Bears and Gold Wings is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday afternoon at the Art Hauser Centre.

sports@paherald.sk.ca

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