More fans are showing up at the local rinks, as provincials continue and teams either move forward in the bracket or are eliminated. The most exciting part of the local hockey season is heating up.
Senior D - Turtleford lost 3-1 in Lake Lenore Friday, but Sunday, on home ice, the Tigers skated to a 6-1 victory and won the series by a 7-4 score. The Tigers advance to play the winner between Kenaston and Naicam, as Kenaston won the first game of the series 7-0.
Radisson and Luseland, who earned first round byes, will begin their provincial runs with both games being played this weekend.
Senior C - The Wilkie Outlaws have advanced in provincials after beating Dundurn 6-2 and 5-2. In game two, Saturday in Wilkie, the Outlaws trailed Dundurn, but had a strong second period with Rick Cey leading the way with two power play goals, which helped them to victory.
Wilkie will face Macklin in the second round and that series will start this week and needs to be completed by Feb. 13.
Senior A - In what was expected to be an entertaining series, Shellbrook beat Meadow Lake in game one of the best-of-three series last weekend 4-1. Game two will be in Shellbrook Friday and if necessary game three is scheduled for Saturday back in Meadow Lake.
The Stampeders joined with St. Walburg and because of that, the present and past Eagles' goalies were going head-to-head. Bryan Bridges is in net for Meadow Lake while Kelly Guard is the goaltender for Shellbrook.
Maidstone, who is combined with Rosthern, played their first game of the series with LeRoy. LeRoy won game one 5-2 in the best-of-three series in Rosthern. Game two was set for Saturday and if a game three is needed it will be played Monday.
Midget C - Edam hosted Cudworth in game one Sunday and tied 4-4. Edam scored shorthanded with less than two minutes left in the third period to tie the game. The decisive game two will be played Saturday in Cudworth.
The Dodsland and Neilburg series should also be wrapping up this weekend, but no scores were posted from the series as of Wednesday.
Midget B - Wilkie and Meadow Lake had an epic series. The teams tied 1-1 in Meadow Lake and the next weekend, in Wilkie, the game went into double overtime. After Meadow Lake erased Wilkie's early lead the Outlaws finally won the game with an unlikely hero scoring his first goal in years. Wilkie advances to play Spiritwood who beat Kerrobert 9-2 in game one, but lost the second game 10-5.
Midget A - The Battlefords Barons await the winner of La Ronge and Rosthern, as that series needs to be completed by Feb. 27.
Midget AA - Unity tied Meadow Lake 3-3 in the first game, then were upset in the second game losing 3-2 to be eliminated.
Meadow Lake advanced to play Beardy's and tied the first game 3-3 in Beardy's Friday.
The other Centre Four Hockey League provincial series features Prince Albert and North East. Prince Albert beat Midwest by 3-2 and 6-5 scores to advance from the first round.
Bantam D - Paradise Hill trials Macklin 4-1 after the first game of their series played in Macklin. The winner advances to play the winner of Dalmeny and Edam and Edam's home game is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday.
Bantam B - Kerrobert eliminated Maidstone after 10-3 and 7-5 scores. Kerrobert now faces Unity in the Northern quarter-finals. Game one was played Wednesday in Unity.
Spiritwood, who earned a first round bye, is tied with Rosthern after the first game of the series.
Bantam A - The Battlefords Barons have their schedule set for their series with Swift Current. The Barons will be in Swift Current Feb. 19 and will host Swift Current Feb. 25 at 4:15 p.m. at Battleford Arena.
Peewee D - Wilkie beat Delisle to advance to the northern quarter-finals where they will face Turtleford, who had a first round bye.
The Lashburn and Macklin series will also be started this week with a deadline of Feb. 13.
Peewee C - St. Walburg is set to start their series with Hague, as are Spiritwood and Unity, who both had first round byes.
Peewee A - The waiting game continued for the Battlefords Barons, as they await the winner of La Ronge and Yorkton. The Barons continue to practise and play exhibition games, as the La Ronge/Yorkton series is scheduled to be completed by Feb. 27.
Peewee AA - The Battleford Barons beat Warman 6-5 in Warman Jan. 20. Two days later, the Barons won 10-4 to advance to the second round where they will face Prince Albert, who is ranked first.
Game one was played Wednesday at the Don Ross Arena in North Battleford while the Barons go back to Prince Albert Friday for the second game of the two-game total-goal series.
Female Midget B - The series featuring Neilburg and Rosetown hasn't started yet and has until March 12 to be completed. Turtleford is the host site for game one of the series Friday.
Female Midget AA - The Battlefords and Prince Albert tied 2-2 in Prince Albert in game one. Game two needs to be finished by Feb. 6.
