The Estevan PowerTech midget AA Panthers won the opening game of both their league and provincial semi-final series.
The Panthers edged the Swift Current Broncos 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at Affinity Place in Game 1 of the South Saskatchewan Female Hockey League (SSFHL) semifinals. Jasynn Monteyne’s goal midway through the third period lifted the Bruins to victory.
Michaella Matthies and Kenzie Balon also scored.
It was a game that the Panthers controlled throughout, but Broncos goaltender Cheyenne Jamieson made more than 40 saves.
“Their goalie played extremely well,” said Panthers coach Trevor Morrison. “We had four breakaways, and she stopped us on them all. Swift Current is a quicker team, so the first period was a little bit of us adjusting to getting used to playing quicker hockey.”
This was the third time the Panthers have faced Jamieson, and she has played well against them before, Morrison said.
It also put pressure on Panthers goalie Morgan Fayle to play well. Morrison noted Fayle made a game-saving stop late in the third.
Game 2 in the series will be March 10 in Swift Current. Game 3, if necessary, would take place on March 14 at Affinity Place at 8 p.m.
The Panthers’ first game in provincials was not as close. They routed the Weyburn Drillers 8-1 on Sunday in Weyburn.
Estevan led 4-0 after the first period. After the teams traded goals in the middle frame, the Panthers scored three more times for the win.
“Our girls came out really well,” said Morrison. “We came out really skating and had a great first period, a real team effort.”
Michaella Matthies paced the offence with three goals. Ashton Magotiaux, Morgan Haygarth, Karli Colpitts, Tasia Trobert and Ireland Biette had individual goals.
Fayle was in goal.
Morrison said it is nice to have the seven-goal cushion for Game 2 in provincials, which will take place on March 8 at Affinity Place at 6 p.m.
“We told the girls it’s a six-period hockey game, but it definitely takes a little bit of the worry off,” said Morrison. “We still want to continue to play well. The girls have really been playing well as of late, and we want to keep the momentum going.”
Morrison said he is a little concerned with fatigue since they have to play four games in seven days. But they are able to roll out three goals, and all of their lines are capable of producing, and so that should help them out.
