Beware the Ides of March! If this refers to winter, you can't scare us because we have already dealt with more than our fair share of wicked winter weather. Enough already.
Unity was alive with activity March 8 weekend. On top of a provincial credit union employee recreational hockey tournament, next door the curling club hosted regional mixed curling playdowns. Players included last year's Sask. Brier representative Scott Manners and hometown Glen and Wanda Heitt. The high school hosted conference senior girls' basketball playdowns Friday and Saturday. Downtown Unity had two exciting events which you will have to watch separate articles for; don't want to spill it all in here. As well, both peewees and midgets hosted playoff hockey games.
UCHS participated in the senior girls' basketball conference playoffs. This year's team includes Madison Acton, Mackenzie Chorney, Kyla Van De Meutter, Emily Mabbett, Alana Neil, Raelyn McAleer, Sharlee Zazalak, Elise Stifter, Brennae Hofmann, Krista Chung and Terra Ferdirko with coach Mathew Poirier at the helm. Madison is the lone Grade 12 on the team and she, along with Grade 11 Mackenzie Chorney, who returned from last year's knee injury this season, have made their mark with several top player nods throughout the season. Although competing at conferences, the team already earned a spot at next weekend's regionals from their first place seeding this year.
The senior boys' team was off to Onion Lake for their conference playoffs. Congratulations, both senior boys and senior girls for earning gold at these conference playdowns. Girls' regionals will also be held in Unity March 15 and 16.
Unity Public School is looking forward to their upcoming ski trip at Table Mountain slated for March 21.
St. Peter's School held their oratory performances and whittled competitors down to the top 10 to advance to the next round. The school has also been taking part in Lenten preparations.
The Midget A Lazers played in the league semifinals against Kerrobert. The team marched to an away victory in game one. They returned to Unity for game two March 8 to a packed house of over 350, with plenty of noise to amp up the playoff hockey crowd. The team earned another win sending them to the league finals.
Undefeated in provincial playoffs, the team faced off against North Battleford March 9. Results were not available at press time so I will keep you posted. Wishing Colton Timmermans a speedy recovery after his unfortunate injury in game one of league semifinal action in Kerrobert.
There were two peewee Lazer teams iced out of Unity this year. One team was entered in the STEP League while one was in the Highway 14 league. Both teams finished atop of their respective leagues. The STEP hockey team had an exciting game against St. Walburg for the league final and, coming back from a 4-1 deficit, the team ramped up their play and took the win in game one of the series. The Highway 14 league team is playing Dinsmore in their league final which started March 13 in Unity. They play the second game in Dinsmore March 15.
In provincial play, after defeating both Turtleford and Dalmeny, the provincial peewee team faced off against Kerrobert/Dodsland/Luseland in the northern final starting March 11, with the second game slated for March 18.
Novice hockey iced two teams this year and finished first and sixth in the standings. Both teams won their first round of league playoffs and now face off against each other. The red novice team were up two goals on the white, heading into a March 10 semifinal, with the winner advancing to the league final against Luseland.
Atom division hockey will host their home tournament Saturday after the previous event in December was cancelled due to lack of entries. In playoffs, the atoms started their second round of league playoffs by losing a close one goal game in round one against Wilkie.
Brittany Hauta and Samantha David play for the Neilburg A Midget Girls Monarchs. They won their first round of provincials against Meadow Lake and have since lost to Elrose. They packed a big score on Saskatoon in their first league playoff game, then subsequently won their next game, advancing them in the series to play another Saskatoon team in round two of league play. Both games took place March 9 weekend.
Heather Wood plays for the West Central Midget AA girls' team who, after earning first in their league, got a bye to the league semifinal and will play Prince Albert, the team they beat in provincial playdowns. They will play a two-game total-point match, which started March 7 and ends March 15. Beating Prince Albert in the provincial playoff series leads them to play Regina for the Midget AA girls' provincial title. The team squared off against Regina with game one in Dodsland March10 and will head to Regina for game two of the two-game total-point series March 17.
Braden Lacoursiere has definitely made his mark on the NB AAA Midget Stars as he is the top scoring defenceman. They started their best-of-five opening league playoff series against the Contacts, however the Stars were unable to advance over a strong Saskatoon team and did not come out of this series.
Unity Credit Union played host to Stanley's Other Cup, a recreational hockey tournament for credit union employees across the province. Five teams participated on the March 8 weekend.
The midget AA spring camp will be held March 19 and March 20 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. each night. All midget-aged players for next season are welcome. For further information, please contact Dwayne Scott at 306-228-8284.
The curling club hosts the annual Bramiche Farms Ladies' Bonspiel this weekend.
Minor ball registration takes place March 14 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the community centre. There will be an annual general meeting to follow.
Unity School of Dance is hosting Showcase of Solos and Duets March 24 with one show at 2 p.m. and another at 7 p.m., at the UCHS gym. Silver collection will take place as well as penny collections for the Free the Children campaign.
March 15 is the deadline for registering physical activity for Unity's entry in the Saskatchewan in motion challenge. Watch for posters or log on to www.saskinmotion.ca.
The museum is still hosting Sunday pancake brunches.
The Delta Co-op annual meetings began March 11 with Unity's supper meeting taking place at the Legion Hall. Meetings are being held the remainder of the week in Macklin, Wilkie and Luseland.
Unity Credit Union will hold their annual general meeting March 26. With board elections taking place from March 18-22.
The annual Ducks Unlimited banquet and auction March 16 at the community centre. There will be cocktails, a silent auction, raffles, dinner and a live auction.
The Unity Wildlife Federation will be holding firearm safety classes in April and interested individuals should call the Unity schools for an application or M. Bosch at the RM office, 306-228-2248.
Coffee row folks avidly reviewed the week-long curling action from the Brier and marvelled at some of the amazing shots and shared their likes and dislikes for who made the playoffs and their overall impression with the young Team Saskatchewan. So you see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next week ...
