The Estevan Power Tech midget AA Panthers failed to make it past round one in the Saskatchewan Hockey Association provincial playoff, losing a two-game, total-goals series to the Regina Capitals.
The Panthers defeated the home team Capitals 4-3 in Regina on Feb. 11, but lost 6-3 at Affinity Place on Feb. 16, and they were outscored 9-7 in the series.
In the first game of the series Estevan jumped out to an early lead as Megan LeBlanc scored 19 seconds into the game. Teanna Sieben and Haley Ronyk had the assists.
LeBlanc then scored her second goal of the period as Estevan went up 2-0. Lacy Smith had the helper.
Regina responded with a goal 40 seconds later and trailed 2-1 after the first period.
In the second, the Capitals tied the game, but the Panthers regained the lead as Taylor Colbow scored with under five minutes remaining in the period. Ashley Chapman and Brooklyn Dukart earned the assists on the play.
Estevan added to their lead in the third when Ronyk scored, and the Capitals scored once in the period.
Coach Chad Chapman said that it was an intense game as the Panthers were able to keep the pressure on the Capitals throughout. He also was impressed with how the team was able to dictate the game after they got the early lead.
In the second matchup Regina scored the first goal of the game, but Sieben scored nine seconds later to tie it up. LeBlanc and Ronyk assisted on the play.
Regina scored three unanswered goals in the second period to go up 4-1.
In the first half of the third Estevan scored two goals to pull within one goal, but Regina scored another two goals to win the game and the series.
LeBlanc scored the Panthers’ two goals, and Ronyk and Kailey McLellan each had an assist.
Despite being down 4-1 after two periods Chapman was impressed with the way the girls fought and almost completed the comeback.
He also noticed that the team “ran out of gas” after they made it 4-3.
Next for the Panthers is a league playoff game against Notre Dame. Game 1 is on Feb. 19 on the road and Game 2 is at Affinity Place on Feb. 22 at 5 p.m.
