U15 Wildcats ready to host Hawks in post-season

If the Westman Wildcats stick to their game, this should be over rather quickly.

The Wildcats (17-6-1) kick off their first round best-of-three clash in the U15 AAA Manitoba Female Hockey League playoffs as they host the Pembina Valley Hawks (6-18-1) in Deloraine on Friday. And while anything can happen come playoff time, the numbers couldn’t be more titled in the direction of the favourite.

Westman finished third place in the standings with 35 points — which was only one behind the Eastman Selects (18-6) and two from the league-leading Central Plains Capitals (18-5-1), who earned themselves a bye in Round 1 — and Pembina ended in sixth with 13.

The Wildcats led the league in goals with 148 and had the second-lowest goals against with 56, trailing only the Selects who managed just 42. The Hawks on the other hand, had the second lowest goals for with 57 and the second most goals against in the league with 101, with only the winless Norman Wild (0-24) tallying poorer totals.

On special teams, Westman notched just under a 30 per cent success rate on the power play and over an 80 per cent kill rate shorthanded, while Pembina’s PP averaged around 12 per cent — and allowed four shorthanded goals — and 77 per cent on the PK.

Everything backs the Wildcats in a sweep, but none of that matters to head coach Jamie Hodson. He’s treating his team’s opponent as any other, and refuses to set his squad up for a trap game.

“We’re certainly going into it with our eyes open and being ready to go,” said Hodson. “Pembina Valley, they’re a strong team. At the end of the day, any team can beat any team on any given night, so we’re definitely getting prepared with practices this week and getting a game plan on how to play against them. We’re not taking anything lightly and we’re going to be prepared as we can be come Friday to try to have a successful first round.

“The girls are really looking forward to it, they’ve put a lot of work in, just like every team this season and it was a goal at the beginning of the year that this group have as much success in playoffs as possible, so we’re at that point now where all that hard work now becomes real.”

From game 1 to game 24, Westman has played with lots of speed, tenacity and an edge, all while putting pucks in the back of the net with ease. Hodson’s daughter, Demi collected 34 goals and captain Georgia Koop registered 26, both leading the team in scoring with 55 points, but there’s also still plenty of fire power behind them.

Senior Lily Wells racked up 23 goals and 43 points, Hailey Davidson put up 12 goals and 30 points, Abbey Oliver grabbed 11 goals and 29 points and Nova Hack recorded 13 goals and 28 points.

The team has seven players with at least 10 goals and 10 who’ve at least reached double digits in points, but the Hawks don’t have that same luxury.

Senior Gianna Yaschyshyn is at the top of Pembina’s scoring with more than a goal per game thanks to 28 goals and 35 points, but then its next highest scorer is Angelina Frey with 11 goals and 20 points. They are the only players on the team with at least 10 goals and only they and Roselyn Vanderveen have more than 10 points.

They don’t have nearly as much depth as the team they’re facing, so Yaschyshyn is going to have to be a big time player come Friday if the Hawks want any chance at winning.

Hodson’s team is ready for her, though.

“She’s a great player in the league and we’re very aware of her,” Hodson said of Yaschyshyn. “She’s had to put a lot of weight on her shoulders for that team and we respect her a lot and we’re aware of her and some other girls on the team who are very talented, so we’re certainly not taking them for granted at all.

“We’re going to be pushing pace and using our speed and trying to keep the puck north of the red line and try to keep it on their side of the ice and eliminate chances in our end.”

One of Hodson’s core coaching philosophies is “the best defence is offence,” so you bet the Wildcats will be shot out of a cannon and ready to wear down the Hawks in the offensive zone the first chance they get.

One of Westman’s leading scorers, Demi, is chomping at the bit to get going.

“I’m pretty pumped,” she said. “We’ve been working for this all year, so I’m looking forward to playing our best and showing everyone what we can do and how we play.

“They’re a strong team, but, we just need to skate them and out work them.”

Hodson didn’t reveal who would start for Westman between the pipes, but there wouldn’t be any surprises if the nod went to rookie Hailey Hauser. In 10 appearances, Hauser recorded a 9-1 record with a 1.20 goals against average and .935 save percentage. Though it’s her first year in U15, she’s been calm and collected and proved to be a reliable choice in the crease. Senior Ivy Nelson, who went 8-5 during the season, collecting a 3.06 goals against average and .870 save percentage in 14 showings, could also get the go-ahead if they’re looking for more experience.

Regardless, Hodson said he has full confidence in both of his net minders.

“At the end of the day, our team is very well suited with both our goalies, and we are quite lucky to have two really good options to put in the net.”

Following Friday evening’s tilt, the two teams will head to Carman for Game 2.

In other playoff matchups across the league, Norman will face Eastman, while Brandon (13-10-1) will duel it out against Yellowhead (12-11-1). Central Plains, who earned a first round bye, will play the lowest seed in Round 2.

» mdelucataronno@brandonsun.com