The Estevan Power Tech midget AA Panthers outshot the Notre Dame Hounds 11-3 in a two game total points playoff series, to move on to round two.
Estevan was in Wilcox on Feb. 19 and defeated the Hounds 7-1, and also earned a 4-2 victory at home on Feb. 22.
In Game 1, Kaily McLellen of the Panthers opened the scoring early in the first period, while Brooklyn Dukart and Taylor Colbow earned the assists. Notre Dame tied the game up 47 seconds later.
Colbow scored the lone goal in the second to give Estevan a 2-l lead. Mackenzie Ronyk had the helper.
The Panthers exploded for five goals in an eight minute span during the third period.
Megan LeBlanc had two goals and an assist, Hayley Ronyk scored once and had two helpers, and Colbow and McLellen also lit up the lamp in the period.
Teanna Sieben, and Brooklyn Dukart also had assists.
Coach Chad Chapman said that his team didn’t play well in the first two periods but was glad to see them play with determination and desperation in the third.
“We wore them down enough with our fore check and dump and chase, that we were able to capitalize on a couple of mistakes,” he said.
During Game 2, Chapman said that his team didn’t play with as much desperation compared to the previous game, as they had a six goal lead going in. But he was impressed with the way they still “grinded” out the game like they should.
The game was scoreless until 1:30 left in the first period when Ashley Chapman found the back of the net for the Panthers. Colbow and Dukart contributed with assists.
Estevan took a 2-0 lead in the second with a goal from Sieben and assists from LeBlanc and Haley Ronyk.
Two minutes and 30 seconds later, Notre Dame cut the lead in half, and tied the game later in the period.
In the final frame McLellen regained the lead for Estevan midway through the period, and Haley Ronyk also scored with one second remaining in the game.
Throughout the game coach Chapman said that the defence was solid and there was great goaltending from Litesha Spittal.
Going into round two, he said that the team has to show that level of emotional, physical and consistent play for the full 60 minutes.
Round two will be a best of three games.
“There’ll be a different mindset we’ll have to have going into them, knowing we have to win not just stay close and hopefully score more goals… to get ahead.”
