The U18 Wilkie/Biggar National Outlaws have also been playing in provincials, sweeping through the U18 B first round against the Waldheim Outlaws and the second round against the Shellbrook Elks. The Elks had advanced by beating the Unity Lazers, winning the third game tiebreaker.
The National Outlaws are playing the Aberdeen Flames in the northern semifinals. The first game was in Biggar, Feb. 25, and ended in a 4-4 tie. The second game, and third if necessary, will be in Aberdeen March 2.
After winning their first second-round game in U13 C provincials, the Unity Lazers repeated the win in game two, at home Feb. 14, defeating the Rosetown Redwings 6-1, to move on to the third round.
The Lazers started their third-round series against the Hague Royals at home Feb. 24. The Royals were on the scoreboard first, scoring halfway through the first period, but two minutes later Lazer Ryden Hoffman, assisted by Liam Close, tied the game.
The only scoring in the second was by the Royals, to end the period with a 2-1 lead. The Hague team scored again early in the third to increase their lead to 3-1.
Audible gasps from the crowd filled the arena when the Hague goaltender turned away shots while the Lazers worked hard to come from behind. An unassisted short-handed goal by Ryden, with only 3:06 remaining, put the Lazers within one.
One minute and seven seconds later, Ryden’s hat trick – this time with an assist from Van Gieni – brought the home team to a 3-3 tie, which was the final score.
The game two (or maybe three) tiebreaker is in Hague, March 1 and will determine whether Unity or Hague advances to the northern final.
The Macklin Mohawks swept the Maidstone Jets in U18 D provincial hockey, winning their games 12-2 and 12-1, qualifying them for the northern final. Playing the Edam 3 Stars in that final, the Mohawks handily won their first game 5-2, in Macklin Feb. 25. Games two and maybe three will be in Turtleford, March 2.
Kerrobert West Central Rage advanced directly to the U18 C northern semifinal, hosting the Lanigan Pirates Feb. 25. The Rage won 5-0 and will take on the Pirates again in Lanigan March 1. Goaltender Ryland Richmond had the shutout.
The U15 Kerrobert Tigers also advanced directly to their northern semifinal and played in Lashburn Feb. 25, losing the game 7-1. The must-win game two will be in the Kerrobert arena, March 2 at 5:30 p.m.
Playing in U13 D provincials, the Kerrobert/Luseland Tigers have made it through two rounds, each time coming up with a win in the third mini-game to advance. Next up for the U13 Tigers was a third-round match against familiar opponents, the Dodsland Stars, which started with a home game Feb. 29; results unavailable by press deadlines.
After ending their series against the La Ronge Ice Wolves with a win in La Ronge, Feb. 10, the U15 Lazers have had a bit of a break before they take on the Kindersley Klippers in the U15 B northern final. The Lazers will play in Eatonia March 1 with game two in Unity March 3, at 7 p.m.
In girls’ provincial hockey, the U13A Western Prairie Wildcats won their first game 3-1, and play again in Warman March 2.
