Written by Colin Powers Monday, Mar 11 2024, 4:46 AM

The season came to an end for the Swift Current Innovation Credit Union U18 AAA Wildcats after a 2-1 loss to the Battlefords Sharks on Sunday at S3 Arenas.

All of the scoring in the game happened in the first period with Anneka Aspaas and Cambree Legge helping the Sharks jump out to a 2-0 lead. Evangeline Hill scored her second playoff goal on the power play with 4:02 left in the opening frame to make it 2-1, which would hold up for the last 44 minutes as the Battlefords completed the two-game sweep of the best-of-three series.

Paige Fischer made 21 saves for the Wildcats while Cypress Classen stopped 41 shots she faced as the Wildcats outshot the Sharks 42-23.

The Sharks advance to the league semi-final where they’ll face the #1 seed Regina Rebels, while the Saskatoon Stars take on the Notre Dame Hounds in the other matchup.

The Wildcats have seven players committed to play post-secondary hockey next season. Leading scorer Alexie Palchinski (11 goals, 29 points) will attend St. Thomas University and Paige Fischer (9-14, 2.78 GAA, .910 SV%) is committed to the University of Manitoba. Also committed are Evangeline Hill (Manitoba), Cassidy Peters (Regina), Amiyah Jones (Lakeland College), Mardi Wagner (Medicine Hat College), and Cydny Price (Dakota College at Bottineau).

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.

Written by Colin Powers Monday, Mar 04 2024, 6:59 AM

The Swift Current Innovation Federal Credit Union U18 AAA Wildcats will wrap up the regular season with a road game against the league-leading Regina Rebels tonight.

Swift Current has already locked up fifth place and will face the fourth place Battlefords Sharks in the first round of playoffs. Game one is on Saturday in Battleford with game two set for Sunday at 6:15pm from S3 Arenas.

Written by Colin Powers Sunday, Feb 25 2024, 7:46 PM

The Swift Current Innovation Federal Credit Union Wildcats dropped a 3-2 decision to the Battlefords Sharks on the road on Sunday.

After a scoreless first period, Kaylee Williams put Swift Current on the board first at the 6:27 mark of the second. Grier Slabadia tied it for the Battlefords on the power play 3:13 into the third period before Williams scored her second of the game on the power play at the 9:48 mark. Anneka Aspaas evened the game up again before Sophie Brecht scored the game-winner with 4:25 left in regulation.

Kyla Benjamin assisted on both Wildcats goals and Alexie Palchinski added a helper. Paige Fischer made 22 saves as Swift Current outshot the Sharks 45-25.

The Wildcats (8-16-2-3) wrap up their regular season on Saturday in Regina.

Written by Colin Powers Monday, Feb 12 2024, 5:50 AM

The Innovation Federal Credit Union U18 AAA Wildcats salvaged a split in Saskatoon with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Stars on Sunday at Merlis Belsher Place.

Kaylee Williams scored two goals 1:06 apart in the second period to put Swift Current up 2-0, but Saskatoon wrapped up the middle frame with three unanswered goals, two from Avery Bairos and another from Haley Braun, to take a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes. Alexie Palchinski tied the game up with 11 minutes to go in the third period to force overtime, and Williams scored the lone goal of the shootout in the fifth round to give the Wildcats the victory.

Paige Fischer stopped 41 shots in regulation and overtime and all five shootout attempts she faced to get the win in goal. The Stars outshot Swift Current 42-30.

The Wildcats (7-14-2-3) visit the Prince Albert Bears next weekend.