OUTLOOK - Hockey fans will likely remember where they were when the first games of the Saskatchewan Junior Female Hockey League (SJFHL) were played when the league debuted last fall, and they're very likely to remember were they were when the league crowned its first-ever championship team this past weekend.
Outlook was the host of the SJFHL Bourgault Cup from March 8-10 as fans filled the Jim Kook Rec Plex to take in all the action, which kicked off with the hosting Mainline Ice Hawks facing off with the Western Prairie Klippers out of Kindersley.
The Hawks were the first on the scoreboard with a goal sunk by #22 Teanna Crossman, nabbing her first of two goals in this game, which would enable her to attain the title of Game Star for her team. Klippers #12 Laiken Swan would answer back with a goal for Kindersley, but Outlook #3 Jayda Braun answered right back for the home team, keeping a lead.
Crossman would slap her second goal for the Hawks during the second period, while Klippers #7 Bridgette Vedress sunk one for her squad. Things came to a slatemate in the second, which meant this one would ultimately be decided in the third, which saw Outlook players #20 Brooklynne Francon and #12 Mary McKay sink goals for their team, enabling the Ice Hawks to take the win over the Western Prairie squad at a score of 5-2.
The second game on Friday saw the Lumsden Lynx take on the Southwest Impact, a roster out of Gull Lake and Swift Current. As soon as the Lynx found an opening, they ran with it and didn't let up against the Impact, showing spectators that they were here to win and ultimately taking the victory at a commanding score of 10-1.
When the action moved to Saturday afternoon, Outlook found itself squared up against the Saskatoon Prairie Blaze. With both teams wanting the victory, things came to a standstill in the second period as each roster fought tooth and nail for the win. In the end, it would be Saskatoon moving on and Outlook taking defeat as the Prairie Blaze won at a score of 2-1. Goals scored by Saskatoon were made by #21 Gwyneth Pritchard (2), while #3 Jayda Braun scored the goal for Outlook.
That impressive momentum gathered by Lumsden would bottom out in their next game when they were slotted against the Regina Jr. Rebels, as the Lynx couldn't find any momentum in order to sink any goals. Regina would take the win in this game at a score of 3-0.
The final game of this championship tournament would see Regina and Saskatoon do battle, and once the Prairie Blaze found some momentum, they didn't let up in their onslaught against the Rebels. Racking up goal after goal, they staved off any chance at a Regina comeback, ultimately winning the SJFHL Bourgault Cup league title at a score of 5-0.
The Saskatoon Prairie Blaze, the first-ever SJFHL champions and coached by Dwayne Horner with assistant coaches Brooklyn Colborn and Kianna Dietz, are comprised of Brooke Archer, Heather Gust, Charlize Field, Jacelyln Kelly, Laney Sochaski, Ashlyn Bernath, Kolby Haynes, Chloe Horner, Kylie Lariviere, Madison Crawford, Emily Stoebich, Cassadie Crawford, Ashley Wehrens, Kalli Stegemann, Makayla Hood, Anita Vachon, Nicole Girolami, Madison Evans, Gwyneth Pritchard, Taelyr Ballard, Emma Tremblay, Anica Gauthier, and Mackenzie Bloom.
