The PowerTech Panthers secured top spot in the South Saskatchewan Female Midget AA division on the weekend with a couple of home ice victories.
The Panthers out hustled the visiting Prairie Storm late Saturday afternoon at Affinity Place led by a five-goal scoring outburst from Megan LeBlanc who finished regular season play just one point behind the league points leader Kate Scidmore. LeBlanc scored goals numbered 19 through 24 and added an assist as the Panthers sailed to a 7-2 decision.
On Sunday afternoon, they finished the season in style with a decisive 4-0 victory over the visitors from Notre Dame who they will now meet in the first playoff round.
In the Sunday contest, coach Chad Chapman got two goal performances from Brooklyn Dukart and Haley Ronyk, while Brianna Cote registered the shutout in the crease.
On Saturday, the Storm were just about able to keep pace with the Panthers in the first frame with the home team carrying a 2-1 edge after the first 20 minutes with LeBlanc wiring her first goal, a 12 foot wrist shot into the upper glove-side corner to begin the celebration with Ronyk providing the helper.
LeBlanc’s second marker was assisted by Brooklyn Chicoine and Macy Earl.
The Storm came back with one before the end of the period, off the stick of Taylor Nyeste.
The Panthers took complete control of the game in the second period with two more goals from LeBlanc, giving her four goals in 40 minutes, while Reagan Curtis managed the only reply for the Storm as she found the net behind Panther goaltender Litesha Spittal who then closed the door for the rest of the afternoon, putting the stop on 21 of the 23 shots on her net.
LeBlanc notched her fifth and final goal of the game early in the third period with help from Ronyk and Kailey McLellan and then Ashley Chapman and Ronyk finished it off with the final two markers with assists going to Dukart on the Chapman goal and LeBlanc and Allie Butler on the Ronyk goal.
On Sunday, the Panthers again took control of the contest in the early going with Dukart scoring within the first three minutes on a assist from Taylor Colbow.
Midway through the first frame Ronyk found the range behind Notre Dame’s goaltender Julianna Cornish with assists going to LeBlanc and Chicoine.
The Estevan squad added to their comfort zone with Dukart’s second of the game, unassisted and then finished it off with a flourish in the third period with Ronyk scoring from LeBlanc and Ashton Magotiaux.
Notre Dame took six of the 10 minor penalties assessed in the game.
The Panthers finished the season with a 22-5-1 record, good for 45 points and six ahead of the Regina Rave who enter the playoffs after recording a 17-6-5 record for second spot.
Estevan gets to begin the playoff format against Notre Dame who finished in eighth and last place with just four wins in their 28 starts.
