U18 Wildcats on brink of advancing in playoffs

It may not have been pretty, but the Westman Wildcats found a way — twice.

The Wildcats (2-0) find themselves just one win away from closing out their best-of-five series with the Pembina Valley Hawks (0-2) and advancing to Round 2 of the Manitoba Female Hockey League U18 AAA playoffs following a pair of barn burners that were oh so close from turning into disaster for Karissa Kirkup’s squad.

“It’s definitely been an entertaining one for the fans,” said Wildcats head coach Kirkup on Tuesday. “It’s been a little stressful for I think both coaching staffs back and forth, but it’s been a really good series so far. Both sides are just fighting and clawing for those do-or die-games and both teams don’t want their seasons to be over and so, we’re doing whatever it takes.

“This is exactly what you prepare for all season, so I’ve been really proud of our team and how we’ve responded.”

Westman grabbed home ice advantage after finishing fourth place in the standings and two spots higher than Pembina Valley (9-20-1) thanks to an 18-7-5 record. The beginning of Game 1 on Friday in Morden appeared to reinforce what most already knew: The Wildcats are simply the better team. Then, the game turned.

Two goals from captain Ivy Perkin and singles from Lucy Waldner, Rachel Lyver and Ava Snyder put the Wildcats in a demanding 5-0 lead just halfway through the second period. They were all over the Hawks, had all the momentum and then the start of the third period happened.

Pembina’s Makayla Warnick, Leah Klaassen, Mia Brass, Sophia Cox, and Rylee Harms all got on the scoresheet in a 14-minute span to come back from a five-goal deficit and draw even. It was a quick turn of events and one nobody had anticipated based on the way the game was going, but that’s hockey.

And luckily, the Wildcats responded back.

Defender Callie Franklin, who led the defence corps in scoring with three goals and 20 points in 30 contests, scored the game winner on the man advantage from Kasia Baranyk and Waldner with just under four minutes left to go to secure her club the 6-5 victory and more importantly, a 1-0 series lead going home. Perkin notched two goals and five points, Lyver potted one goal and three points and Franklin, Snyder, and Waldner all collected two points.

Kirkup was obviously not thrilled seeing her team give up a five-goal lead, but was proud of how they bounced back.

“Just knowing our team and knowing how our leadership team reacts and carries our team and trail blazes us forward, I knew that as I was talking to each individual forward line, the bench was calm. The bench was getting a little anxious, but it was calm,” she said. “We knew what we needed to do to get the job done and eventually we did. It just took a few more tricky moments than planned in the, beginning, but in the grand scheme of it, I think we all still believed we could get the job done.”

Game 2 in Hartney on Sunday was a similar story and the same result.

Ivy Fry scored Westman’s first two goals of the game with Perkin assisting on both, before Payton Smith and Waldner added to its lead to make it 4-1 early into the second frame. Pembina Valley didn’t go away, though. Once again, they came back from their deficit following goals from Ariel Rondeau, Delaney Darby, and Cox to tie the game at fours. Now, enter leader of the ship — Perkin.

Just when it looked like her team was finally going to pay its dues for giving up significant leads in two consecutive games, the 17-year-old put the team on her shoulders and buried one with less than two minutes remaining in the third to cap off a four-point night and push the Wildcats to a 5-4 win and 2-0 series lead.

Heartbreak was narrowly avoided twice, and Kirkup believes that experience is what will continue to carry them forward as they make their run for the championship.

“I think if we were to go through round one and have it go our way and win 5-0 in Game 1, same thing Game 2, and move on to Round 2 I think that would almost do us a disservice,” said Kirkup. “It’s a good lesson for us to play every minute, you can’t take any shifts off.

“We’re still continuing to evolve as a team in a positive direction and still getting better and we’re truly never satisfied with even a 5-0 lead. You still have to battle and compete just as hard, shift in and shift out, so that’s what they’re learning. We definitely have to be zoned in and get the job done for Game 3.”

Westman had a chance to end Pembina Valley’s season on Tuesday night in Hartney, but the game ended after deadline. Depending on the result, it will either play Game 4 on Thursday back in Morden, or advance to Round 2 and not play until next week. No matter what happens, however, expect the Wildcats to get even better form here on out.

“Ultimately, our team goal and each individual player’s goal is to extend our season as long as possible and to win a championship,” Kirkup said. “Moving forward we’re always thinking that it’s kind of starting from the ground up, so we have to work and compete and do the little things right to put ourselves in the best situation that we can.

“We’re always just reminding our team that there’s always moments and pieces that you can control like your attitude towards the game, your mindset as well as your feet. As long as your feet are moving, and you’re trying to think ahead a little bit, anticipate the play and get shots through and into the net then that’s all you can do.”

With 11 Wildcats having already registered a point through two games, the team’s depth and scoring ability has certainly been put on display, as Perkin leads her team with nine points through two games — behind her is Fry with two goals and four points, while Waldner completes the top three with two goals and three points.

In between the pipes, Shannon Hees and Indigo stone have both collected a win. Stone allowed five goals on 26 shots in Game 1, putting up a .808 save percentage and Hees surrendered four goals on 29 shots for a .862 save percentage in Game 2. The two have collectively allowed three short handed goals this post-season meanwhile the power play has only capitalized twice, so that’s an area they’re going to need to work on if they want to have continued success.

Stone was given the nod on Tuesday night for Game 3, but Kirkup still anticipates using both of them throughout their run.

“We definitely trust both goalies in high pressure situations,” she said. “At this point, they’ve both proved they both deserve a chance to showcase themselves in playoff situations and I trust both of them, so when it comes down to it later in this series or as we continue in playoffs, we will make those decisions.”

Westman’s other team, the Yellowhead Chiefs, was swept by the Winnipeg Avros. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Ice and Eastman Selects both held 2-0 series leads going into last night’s late action.

» mdelucataronno@brandonsun.com