Written by Colin Powers Tuesday, Mar 05 2024, 5:59 AM

The Swift Current Innovation Federal Credit Union U18 AAA Wildcats dropped a 2-1 decision to the league-leading Regina Rebels in their final game of the regular season on Monday night in the Queen City.

Berlin Lolacher opened the scoring for Regina with 5:13 left in the first period and Stryker Zablocki added a shorthanded marker midway through the second to put the Rebels up 2-0. Alexie Palchinski put the Wildcats on the board with 97 seconds left in the middle frame, but Regina would take the victory after a scoreless third period.

Paige Fischer made 42 saves as the Rebels outshot the Wildcats 44-16.

The Wildcats finish the season in fifth place with an 8-17-2-3 record and will face the Battlefords Sharks in a best-of-three first-round playoff series. Game one is in Battleford on Saturday with game two at S3 Arenas on Sunday. Game three, if necessary, will be in Battleford next Wednesday.