By Jeff D'Andrea

Bears begin Esso Cup in an 0-2 hole

Apr 24, 2017 | 4:56 PM

The Prince Albert Northern Bears’ playoff hopes aren’t extinct for the 2017 Esso Cup national female Midget AAA hockey championships, but they are on the warning list.

The Bears fell to 0-2 after a 5-1 defeat to the Durham West Lightning Monday afternoon in Morden, Man. On Sunday, the Bears narrowly dropped their opener, a 2-1 loss to the hosting Pembina Valley Hawks. The Bears immediately fell behind the eight ball down 3-0 after the opening frame. Julie Gough scored 18 seconds into the game from a sharp angle.

Durham scores just 18 seconds in to take a quick 1-0 lead over the Bears. Julie Gough with the goal. pic.twitter.com/QoZTLeDwNv

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

Brianna Brooks made it a 2-0 game midway through the opening frame.

Brianna Brooks gives the Lightning a 2-0 lead over the Bears, 9 minutes into the first period pic.twitter.com/czYqbF5iuj

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

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Chavonne Truter extended the lead to 3-0 less than 1:30 afterwards.

Make that 3-0 Lightning, 10:07 into the first. Chavonne Truter gets credit. pic.twitter.com/Elq72oiuEe

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

Bears captain Brooke Hobson got her club back in the game with a goal early in the second period, after a lovely pass from Kate Ball. That’s Ball’s second point of the tournament, after scoring the lone Bears’ goal in their 2-1 defeat Sunday to the Pembina Valley Hawks.

Brooke Hobson gets the Bears on the board early second. Great pass from Kate Ball as well, her second point of the tournament. 3-1 game pic.twitter.com/cAORLwvuxQ

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

Brooklyn Donaldson was able to regain the three-goal lead for the Lightning late in the frame.

Hard slapshot by Brooklyn Donaldson gives the Lightning a 4-1 lead late in the third pic.twitter.com/Oq8fKCroeZ

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

Truter got her second of the game late in the play.

Lightning add a late one as Truter gets her second of the game. The Bears lose a 5-1 final to the Lightning and start the Esso Cup 0-2 pic.twitter.com/VddNQDhc8N

— 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 third 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.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

@jeff_paNOW.