By Jeff D'Andrea

PA’s Berube reflects on Midget AAA career with Bears, who were eliminated by Weyburn

Mar 19, 2014 | 9:25 PM

Crystal Berube’s Midget AAA career went by way too quickly for her liking.

She played out her last ever game with the Prince Albert A&W Bears, her hometown team as the Bears were eliminated from the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League postseason by the Weyburn Gold Wings. The Bears lost the game 5-2, and the second round series 3-1. With the series win, the Gold Wings will advance to the league finals and face the Regina Rebels, who beat the Bears in last year to win the league championship.

Just after Berube was awarded as the Bears’ player of the game, she gave award presenter and Bears volunteer Robin Wildey a big hug.

“It seems like just yesterday it was my rookie year here,” an emotional Berube said after the game.

Berube is one of only three graduating Bears, the others are Kendra Winny from Rosetown and Aleece Anderson from Hudson Bay. Otherwise, the Bears were one of the youngest teams in the league.

Liquor stores must change hours

Prince Albert limits liquor store hours

1h ago

skin care +

LUXE22 Clinic : Elevating Beauty with Expert Treatments

1h ago

Leadership Needed to Stop Federal Overreach

4h ago

They had 11 rookies, not including affiliate call-up Jordan Ashe who turned 14-years-old on March 15 and played with the Bears throughout the playoffs and three regular season games.

Berube said she was proud of how the Bears got to the second round of the playoffs with all the first-years on her team.

“To get to this point with the young team that we had, it’s a really amazing,” said Berube, who was second on the Bears in playoff scoring with six points in seven postseason games. “I know what it’s like to be (a rookie) and you look up at all these older girls and think, ‘wow,’ you just feel so inexperienced compared to them.

“You just have to keep encouraging the girls. In practice, you do the drills first so everybody knows what they’re doing, and on the ice, you just encourage them.”

Summary

After a scoreless first period, the Gold Wings got on the board quickly midway through the second as Kassidy Sjostrand drew first blood. Crystal Berube would tie the game for the Bears, but the Gold Wings regained their lead a minute later off a power play tip goal from Tessa Wilson.

Wilson almost had her second goal of the game late in the second period, after she followed a rebound off the end board glass and put it in the back of the net. The officials waved off the goal, ruling Bears goaltender Jessica Vance had frozen it.

The Bears were able to tie the game up at 2-2 with 8:49 left in the third period. On a delayed penalty, the Bears gained the zone and passed it back to the point to Cassidy Carlson, who scored on a seeing eye shot.

But the Bears would collapse late, giving up three unanswered goals to the Gold Wings. Jensen Hammer,

Madison Colbow and Macy Liebreich would all score for the visitors late to run away with the game.
Vance made 25 saves on 30 shots, while her Gold Wings counterpart Jane Kish made 13 stops on 15 shots.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea