Hartney, MB (CKLQ) – The Westman Wildcats are looking to punch their ticket to the Esso Cup National Female Midget AAA Championship this weekend.
Their road to the nationals will make a stop in Saskatoon for a three-game series with the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Champion, Saskatoon Stars.
The Stars finished the season 27-1 and boast four of the leagues top five scorers. While the Wildcats are a relatively young team that finished 21-5-2 and rolled through the playoffs on route to a league title back in March.
"We’ve watched the Stars in a couple of tournaments and Guy Williams (Head Coach) went and watched them in their last game," said Assistant Coach Myles Hubbard. "We know what’s coming at us, they have a very good team."
The last time the Wildcats played in a West Regional was in 2017 when they were swept by the Prince Albert Bears. Prior to that, their last trip to the Westerns saw them advance all the way to the Esso Cup in 2009, a tournament they would end up winning.
"We’re more worried right now about getting by Saskatoon," added Hubbard. "We will worry about the next step after that. These girls just keep surprising us and maybe we have one more surprise left in us and we can get to the Esso Cup."
The bus is set to leave Hartney at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and will make its way to the newly built Merlis Belsher Place, home of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s and women’s hockey programs.
Puck drop in game one of the three-game series between the Wildcats and Stars is 8:30 MB time Friday night.
West Regional Series Schedule
Game #1 – April 5th @ 8:30 MB time
Game #2 – April 6th @ 4:45 MB time
Game #3 – April 7th @ 3:45 MB time (If Necessary)