By Jeff D'Andrea

Bears’ incredible winning streak broken to start Esso Cup

Apr 23, 2017 | 8:26 PM

The Prince Albert Northern Bears suffered an unfortunate case of déjà vu Sunday in their 2017 Esso Cup national female Midget AAA hockey tournament at the Access Event Centre in Morden, Man.

They fell 2-1 to the hosting Pembina Valley Hawks to start off the tournament with a loss. The Hawks also beat the Bears by that exact score earlier in the year, on Oct. 6 in Morden during an exhibition tournament.

For the Bears, that’s their first defeat since Jan. 29. The Bears entered the playoffs on a four-game winning streak, swept all three playoffs series and beat the Westman Wildcats in a two-game sweep in the Western Regionals.

Snipes and highlights

The only goal of the first period was scored by the hosting Hawks. After a ferocious forecheck, Hannah Petrie gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead, getting a pass from behind the net from Brooklyn Platt.

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Bears can’t clear and the Hawks strike first. Hannah Petrie with the goal midway through the first pic.twitter.com/HFrX6kqS6f

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) April 24, 2017

Two minutes into the second period, the Bears scored their first ever Esso Cup goal. Kate Ball scored on the backhand shortly after an offensive zone faceoff. Ball’s goal is a historic one, as she is the first and only Bear to have potted a goal at the Esso Cup. Jasper Desmarais drew the lone assist on the play.

Kate Ball ties it up for the Bears right off the face off she won. 1-1 pic.twitter.com/6eCWzeXF5v

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) April 24, 2017

That equalizer was short-lived as the less than two minutes later, Toni Conrad sniped on a 2-on-1 rush to regain the Hawks’ lead heading into the third period.

Hawks quickly respond on a 2-on-1 rush. Toni Conrad makes it a 2-1 game pic.twitter.com/VBx1seLbq8

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) April 24, 2017

Rest of the week

The Bears will continue their Esso Cup journey on Monday against the Durham West Lightning from Ontario at 2:30 p.m. (all game starts are listed in Saskatchewan time).

The Bears will then play the Mid-Isle Wildcats from Prince Edward Island at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Their next game will be on Wednesday at 11 a.m. against the St. Albert Slash from Alberta.

The Bears will then wrap up the group stages with a game against les Harfangs du Triolet from Quebec Thursday at 2:30 p.m.

Playoffs start on Friday, with the medal games taking place on Saturday.

Drew Wilson will have live radio coverage of every game live on 900 CKBI. 

Live coverage and GIF highlights will be available on @jeff_paNOW. Full game reports, along with GIF highlights and other information will be available here on paNOW.com.

Jeff D’Andrea is paNOW’s sports reporter. He can be reached at jdandrea@jpbg.ca or tweet him @jeff_paNOW.