The wins haven’t exactly rolled in for the U15 AAA Female Interlake Lightning this season but being one of the league’s top teams isn’t what they expected going into it.
Head coach Allan Ward said back in November that this season would be about growth and development, and since then, things have slightly improved for the club, which is in its second year of existence.
Two weeks ago, Interlake picked up its second and third wins of the season against the Norman Wild, improving its record to 3-15.
They are also becoming more competitive with other teams, the most recent example being Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings.
The game remained deadlocked through 20 minutes before the Wheat Kings eventually found a way past Lightning’s Jordan Brewer.
The Lightning brought the game close again in the third with a goal from Ella Riddell, which made it 3-1 at the time.
Although the Wheat Kings won by three goals, the Lightning played a respectable game, including a 35-save performance from Brewer.
And though it wasn’t a win, it’s a positive sign for the Lightning to be in close games with teams like the Wheat Kings that sit around the .500 mark and have beaten some of the league’s top teams this season.
“Obviously, the scores don’t always go our way, but what we’re really focusing on with our girls is getting a 60-minute hockey game,” said assistant coach Eryn Stewart. “Over the last two games, they’ve been working really hard, and we’ve definitely been playing a lot more as a team, gelling a bit better, getting our passes through. We’ve just got to work on the offensive side more but yeah the goal for our girls is to get that full sixty minutes and we’re getting there.”
Currently sitting seventh in the U15 AAA Manitoba Female Hockey League, the Lightning still have 10 regular-season games remaining to work out some kinks.
The Lightning know that goaltending won’t be an issue, as the tandem of Brewer and Emma Cassils remains the team’s strong point.
Brewer, who is coming off a solid performance against Brandon, has totalled 220 saves in just seven games this season, whereas Cassils has made 413 saves in 13 games.
If the Lightning have any chance of making some noise late in the season, they know the pair will be heavily involved in that success.
“They face tons of shots every game, so we can’t expect them to be perfect, but they’re pretty darn close sometimes,” said Stewart. “We’re very lucky to have two very skilled goalies, especially for next year as well, so it’ll be nice to have them going forward, and we just have to get more shots and more goals to help them because they sure save us a heck of a lot.”
The Lightning are now getting ready for their biggest season test on Saturday against the first-place Pembina Valley Hawks.
In their one meeting this season, the Hawks took it 4-1 at Veterans Memorial Sports Complex after taking the lead early and holding on for the win.
This time, the Lightning will look to get on the winning side of the scoreboard and pull off the biggest upset win of the season.
The puck drops on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Carman-Dufferin Arena.
The U13 AA Female Interlake Lightning lost 5-0 to the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday. They currently sit seventh with a 5-14-0-1 record.
Next game: Sunday, Jan. 26 at Twins, 3 p.m. at St. Norbert Community Centre
The U13 AA Male Interlake Lightning lost 5-1 to the Brandon Wheat Kings Black on Saturday. They currently sit 14th with a 9-11-0-1 record.
Next game: Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Winnipeg Wild White, 8 p.m. at Eric Coy Arena followed by at game on Saturday, Jan 25 vs Winnipeg Thrashers Red at 4:30 p.m. at Warren’s Access Credit Union Arena.
The U15 AA Male Interlake Lightning lost 5-2 to the Winnipeg Wild Gold on Saturday night at Eric Coy Arena. They currently sit seventh with an 8-8-4-2 record.
Next game: Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Winnipeg Wild Green, 7:15 p.m. at St. Norbert Community Centre.
They also play Sunday, Jan. 26 at Winnipeg Wild White, 3:30 p.m. at Eric Coy Arena.
The U15 AAA Male Interlake Lightning lost 9-1 to the Winnipeg Bruins Black on Saturday and 9-2 to the Winnipeg Thrashers White on Sunday. They currently sit fifth in the Central Division with a 4-22-0-0 record.
Next game: Sunday, Jan. 26 at Pembina Valley Hawks, 3 p.m. at Rosenort Arena
The U17 AAA Male Interlake Lightning tied 3-3 with the Winnipeg Wild in league play on Wednesday. Over the weekend, they also took third place at the Robin’s Minor Hockey Tournament in Thunder Bay. They currently sit seventh in the league with a 5-16-5-0 record.
Interlake has two home games this weekend. They host the Brandon Wheat Kings Friday, Jan. 24, at 7:45 p.m. at Warren’s Access Credit Union Arena, and the Ice Bandits on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The U18 AAA Female Interlake Lightning split a pair of games on Saturday with a 2-1 shootout win over the Brandon Wheat Kings and a 6-2 loss to the Westman Wildcats. They also lost 5-4 to the Westman Wildcats on Sunday. They currently sit eighth with a 5-23-0-1-3 record.
Next game: Wednesday, Jan. 22 vs the Winnipeg Ice at 7:15 p.m. at Hockey For All Centre. They will host the Pembina Valley Hawks Friday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. at the VMSC.
The U18 AAA Male Interlake Lightning lost 5-3 and 4-2 to the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday and Sunday. They currently sit eighth with a 15-14-2-1-3-1 record.
The U18 teams has two home games this weekend. Friday, Jan. 24 vs Central Plains Capitals, at 7 p.m. at Teulon Rockwood Arena. They also host the Bruins on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m.
