Despite having only a handful of players back from last year's championship team, the Estevan Power Dodge Chargers showed on Monday that they're still the best team in the South Saskatchewan Female Hockey League.
The bantam A club edged the South West Cyclones 2-1 in Gull Lake in Game 2 of the league final to sweep the series and repeat as league champions.
First-year forward Michaella Matthies scored both goals for the Chargers, and Megan LeBlanc added two assists.
"They work harder than a lot of people. Hopefully they can continue that and we can do it again next year," said Chargers coach Brad Friars.
Matthies opened the scoring at 6:43 of the first on a power play when LeBlanc skated down the left wing and fed her for a tap-in.
After a scoreless second period, the Cyclones tied it at 5:36 of the third on a goal by Courtney Bredahl.
But the Chargers regained the lead less than six minutes later, when Matthies scored the eventual winner at 11:08.
"She came out of our end, burned their defenceman and went in on a breakaway and went top corner. It was intense, let me tell you. The rink was packed," said Friars.
"Hats off to Gull Lake, they're a really hard working team and they're on you immediately. When you've got the puck, there's no razzle-dazzle."
The Chargers had only 11 skaters, compared to the Cyclones' 17.
Friars added that goaltender Tamara Irwin and captain Mariah McKersie were also key players in the Chargers' playoff run.
The Chargers won the series opener 5-2 on Sunday at the Civic Auditorium.
McKersie and Matthies each scored twice for the Bruins, with LeBlanc adding a single.
McKersie opened the scoring at the 6:37 mark on a power play, firing a shot top shelf to put the Chargers on top.
The Cyclones tied it up nine minutes in with another man-advantage marker, courtesy of Bredahl.
Matthies would score the third power play goal of the period with just 38 seconds remaining, giving the Chargers a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Estevan continued to score early in the second period.
Matthies made it 3-1 at the 1:45 mark, and exactly two minutes later, McKersie potted her second of the game.
It didn't take long for the Cyclones to reply though, as Reece Girodat netted a power play goal five minutes into the frame. That 4-2 score would stand after two periods.
The only goal of the third period came from LeBlanc at the 13:28 mark, as she scored with a forehand on a breakaway.
Irwin earned the win in goal for the Chargers.
