Northern Bears, Mintos split opening weekend series

In game one, P.A. jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with Jersie Andersen scoring 6:37 into the contest, which was followed by Zoey Krienke less than 40 seconds later.

However, Raela Packet got the Wildcats on the board 35 seconds after to cut the lead to one.

The Bears carried the 2-1 lead into the second when P.A. managed to re-establish their lead. With just over five minutes to play in the frame, Jordyn Fidler connected with Londyn Hoffman for the period’s lone goal.

With the lead now 3-1 entering the third, the Bears defence stood tall and prevented any sort of Wildcat offence to hang on for win.

Annika Neufeldt was between the pipes for Prince Albert tallying 29 saves, while Jordyn Ottenbreit turned aside 40 for Swift Current in the loss.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Sunday’s game two began with not as much offence as the first, but the scoreless deadlock was broken in the back half of the frame.

Reece Hawkins got the ball rolling for Swift Current with 1:46 remaining in the first, as Swift Current took that one goal lead into the second period.

There, the Northern Bears got on the board courtesy of captain Elizabeth Udell’s first of the season as P.A. equalized. Continued offence gave the Bears the lead, with Mikiya Anderson lighting the lamp with 2:42 left in the frame.

However, third period penalty troubles proved costly for Prince Albert as Jade Thompson capitalized on the man advantage to make it 2-2. The shift in momentum stayed with Swift Current with Charlize Hillmer scoring the game winner later in the period.

Ashley Vezeau needed 21 saves to collect the game two win for the Wildcats, while Nikita Krayetski had 23 stops and was credited with the loss.

GAME TWO BOX SCORE

The Northern Bears are set to hit the road for their next weekend series when they travel to Weyburn to face off with the Gold Wings. Either game is slated for a 2:00 p.m. puck drop on Saturday and Sunday.

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Mintos recap

Unlike the Northern Bears, the Prince Albert Mintos started the new campaign on the road in Southern Saskatchewan.

The Mintos were in Yorkton to battle the Maulers, however game one didn’t start off according to plan.

The Maulers hung four goals on P.A. in the opening frame, including two from Ryder Woods and one each from Tanner Wiens and Aidan Vallance. Yorkton also had the lone second period marker in Layne McKechnie.

With the score now 5-0 entering the third, the Mintos finally started to show signs of life and managed to break the goose egg. Connor Howe tallied the first goal of the season less than three minutes in, while Brock Kolibab added another a few moments later.

Despite the late push, the Maulers would eventually sink P.A. in the season opener as Vallance scored his second of the game via an empty net en route to a 6-2 Yorkton win.

Returning netminder Josh Henry tallied 27 stops in the loss, while his counterpart Casson Silbernagel managed 24 saves in the win.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE

The Mintos came out with a bit more pep in their step for game two, leading to their first lead of the season.

Newly acquired Kanyan Unger put P.A. out in front less than eight minutes in, but Yorkton quickly had an answer with Vallance’s third of the series to make it 1-1 after one.

Penalties plagued the Maulers entering the second, leading to a power play tally from Carter Stolte to put the Mintos back out in front. However, P.A.’s own penalty woes led to Yorkton retaking the lead.

The Maulers scored three unanswered in Brady Simpson, Grady Keith, and Theron Watteyne, with two of those coming on the man advantage.

Now down by two in period three, Carter Bergen stepped up for the Mintos and scored not once, but twice in the final frame to force overtime.

That third period scoring touch stayed stuck to Bergen’s stick in O.T. as he also tallied the game-winner to not complete the hat trick, but give Prince Albert their first win of the season, 5-4.

P.A.’s Henry was back in net for game two and collected the win with 22 saves, while Reid Schweitzer managed 20 stops in the loss.

GAME TWO BOX SCORE

The Mintos are back in action next weekend as they get set for their home opening weekend series. P.A. is set to welcome the Notre Dame Hounds to the Art Hauser Centre for a two-game set.

Puck drop for game one on Saturday is at 7:00 p.m., while game two will start on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

by Logan Lehmann

Northern Bears, Mintos split opening weekend series

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