By Jeff D'Andrea

Bears have a Ball in 2OT thriller; one win away from finals

Mar 14, 2018 | 10:46 PM

Scoring big goals in double overtime can elicit a lot of emotions—just ask Kate Ball.

The Prince Albert Northern Bears’ centre ended the game 3-2 in double OT over the Notre Dame Hounds to give the Bears the Game 3 victory and a 2-1 lead in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League semfinals. 

But when she put the puck into the net, her first thought wasn’t about her accomplishment, or the fact the Bears are now one win away from returning to the finals. Her first thought was about the player that set her up for the goal, Camryn Amundson.

“I love my linemate Cam,” Ball smiled. “She made an amazing pass to me. I’m thankful that she did that.

“We got on a 2-on-1 and the defence slid, so Cam put the puck around her and got it to me.”

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Although she was happy to pass along most of the praise to Amundson, Ball certainly deserves a bit herself.

“She’s got a nose for the net. She drives the net and shoots lots, so it’s nice to see the puck go off of her stick,” Bears head coach Jeff Willoughby said. “If she has confidence, it’s just going to mean more Kate Ball going to the net and scoring big goals. It’s good.”

Amundson that tied the game at 2-2 with just 1:48 left in the game to force overtime in the first place. Amundson remains in first in SFMAAAHL playoff scoring with seven goals and 11 points in six games played. Ball is tied for second in postseason scoring with seven points (two goals).

Brooklyn Anderson had the first goal for the Bears. Raine Smith and Jenna MacLean both scored for the Hounds.

Kaitlyn Ross made 47 saves in goal for the Hounds in the 81:39 she played. Ryan Fontaine made 19 saves on 21 shots in the same timeframe.

The Bears can end the series now, but will have to beat the Hounds in Wilcox on Saturday. The last Bears have lost both of their last two road meetings against the Hounds.

“I think much ike we did today, we have to limit their chances and keep the puck moving in their end,” Willoughby said. “We have to utilize their big ice with our speed, I don’t think we did that Sunday in Game 2. We came back from one goal down [tonight]… now I want to play ahead for once in this series.”

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW