The Battlefords Sharks have begun the season undefeated and in first-place.
It's only two games in, but first place is indeed where the team sits after their first weekend of play to begin the female midget AAA hockey campaign.
They played two games against the Notre Dame Hounds at Duncan McNeill Arena in Wilcox Saturday and Sunday. The Sharks are looking to build upon their strong performance last year that saw them post a big improvement in the standings.
Sharks 3 Notre Dame 1
There was no scoring in the first period of Saturday's contest in Wilcox, but the Sharks got on the board in period two. Maya Tupper scored unassisted at the 12:19 mark. With 6:41 remaining, Tupper scored again, with Alyssa Roach and Morgan Lamontagne assisting, to make it 2-0, and that was the score through two.
Kyla Butz cut the margin to 2-1 early in the third period with Abigail Bowley and Jenna MacLean assisting.
But Roach sealed the game up with a goal with 54 seconds left. The Sharks had an opening game victory on the road, 3-1. Chloe Marshall stopped 40 of 41 shots for the Sharks to get the win.
Sharks 5 Notre Dame 1
In game two Sunday, the Sharks again got off to a hot start. Brittany Yeager scored unassisted and then Kyra Ledoux also scored unassisted to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead. Notre Dame did answer back on a goal from Katey Zelman to cut it to 2-1.
In the second, Dakota Peterson scored from Tiffani Empey to make it a 3-1 Sharks lead.
The third period was a penalty-filled one for Notre Dame, with four trips to the box. The Sharks capitalized with power play goals from Landry Derdall with Taylor Fiske assisting, and then Fiske from Yeager to complete a 5-1 win over the Hounds.
Shelby Tornato stopped 21 of 22 shots for the win.
The next action for the 2-0 Sharks is this Saturday, Oct. 10 at Battleford Arena as they begin a weekend series at home to Regina. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
