By Jeff D'Andrea

Bears close out best season in team history with win

Apr 27, 2017 | 5:14 PM

The Prince Albert Northern Bears finished their Esso Cup off on a strong note.

They beat les Harfangs du Triolet 3-2 in their final national female Midget AAA hockey game Thursday in Morden, Man.

Although the Bears finished with a 2-3 tournament record, they did not qualify for the top four of the playoffs due to goal differential.

The Bears got off to a flying start as captain Brooke Hobson scored a minute into the contest.

Captain leading the way as Bears’ Brooke Hobson gives her club a 1-0 lead early pic.twitter.com/myRQKRmJMV

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) April 27, 2017

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Les Harfangs were able to tie the game midway through the first period on a goal-mouth scramble.

A ton of contact with Bears’ goalie Elek but it’s a good goal. Megan Bureau-Gagnon gets credit for les Harfangs. 1-1 in the first pic.twitter.com/TcawuL2wws

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) April 27, 2017

Jadyn Kushniruk regained the Bears lead with a quick snipe, to give the Bears a 2-1 lead just eight minutes into the game.

Abby Soyko to Jadyn Kushniruk to the back of the net. 2-1 Bears in this goal festival of a game. We’ve barely played eight minutes! pic.twitter.com/uER6Ff37ut

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) April 27, 2017

Early in the second period, Alli Soyko was able to strip the puck from Harfangs goaltender and put the Bears up 3-1.

Alli Soyko strips the goalie and makes it 3-1 Bears early in the second pic.twitter.com/M0HLbXOrug

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) April 27, 2017

On the power play in the second period, Sandrine Veillette made it a one-goal game with a point blast. But that’s as close as they’d get.

Sandrine Veillette gets les Harfangs back into it on the power play. 3-2 6 minutes into the 2nd pic.twitter.com/UcwmInqNEq

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) April 27, 2017

This was the first time in the Bears’ history that they qualified for the Esso Cup national championship.

They previously won the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League championship in 2009.

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