Moving from third place to at least a tie for first-place in the Saskatchewan Hockey Association’s Female Midget AA division, was a huge lift for the Estevan Power Tech Panthers on the weekend.
The Panthers scored a couple of home ice victories, including an impressive 5-2 decision over the once first-place Regina Capitals on Sunday after warming up with a 3-0 blanking of the fourth-place Prairie Storm on Saturday night at Affinity Place.
What’s even more promising is the fact that with 14 games played, the Panthers have three games in hand over the Capitals heading into the Christmas break.
Brianna Cote recorded the shutout for the home team, stopping all 36 shots, some of them off a couple of breakaways in the second period that she stifled with aplomb to maintain her perfect performance, much to the delight of head coach Chad Chapman.
Support from her teammates came in the form of goals from Ashley Chapman, Brooklyn Dukart and and Haley Ronyk with Ronyk and Dukart scoring their markers late in the third period. But, as it turned out, Chapman’s first period tally was the only one that was needed. Taylor Colbow set up Chapman’s first period goal, while Allie Butler provided the helper for Ronyk’s late third-period effort.
The Storm took nine of the 15 minor penalties in the weekend opener.
On Sunday, the Panthers rolled to a 3-1 first period lead against the first-place Capitals and added two more in the third, which was answered by one Capital tally, following a scoreless middle frame.
Megan LeBlanc scored the opening goal within the first five minutes, with Chapman providing the assist.
Kamryn Friars added a power play goal about four minutes later and within another minute, Jenna Kreklewich made it 3-0 before the Caps came back with a goal off the stick of Irelyn Heward.
Dukart and Brooklyn Chicoine added to the Estevan lead in the third period before Kacey Hall finally tallied for the Regina team with less than a minute to play and the results already determined.
LeBlanc, who was third in the SHA, AA division scoring race with 20 points in 12 games heading into the weekend, added an assist to go along with her goal to bump her scoring statistics.
Dukart’s third period goal, also came off a power play, and she added an assist to give her a two-point game as well. Other assists were recorded by Haley and Mackenzie Ronyk, Teanna Sieben and Macy Earl.
Litesha Spittal in goal for the Panthers stopped 28 of 30 shots in recording the win. The Panthers sent 36 shots in total on Caitlyn Bilan in the Capital’s crease.
Both teams took seven minor penalties.
