The Northeast Predators capped off a dominant season with a dramatic 3–2 overtime win over the Eastman Sharks in Game 5 of the Hockey Winnipeg U18 AA girls hockey final, claiming their third consecutive championship.
The Lord Selkirk Minor Hockey Association/REMHA squad finished first overall in the regular season with a 23–4 record, earning 47 points over 28 games — the third year in a row they’ve topped the standings.
The playoffs, held at Selkirk Recreation Complex, followed a round-robin format. The Predators went undefeated to secure the No. 1 seed, then swept the Stonewall Blues in the semifinal with decisive 4–0 and 6–1 victories.
The championship series against Eastman lived up to its billing, going the full five games for a third straight year.
The Predators took the opener 4–2 before Eastman responded with a 1–0 overtime win in Game 2. Northeast bounced back with a 4–0 shutout in Game 3, highlighted by a Michigan-style goal from Ella Honkonen Makkonen that brought the crowd to its feet. The Sharks forced a winner-take-all finale with a tight 2–1 win in Game 4.
In the decisive fifth game, the Predators prevailed 3–2 in overtime to seal the 2024–25 title. The game-winner was a highlight-reel passing play: Airiana Kordalchuk set up Honkonen Makkonen, who fed Kate Rabichuk for the finish.
All series long, goaltending was outstanding on both sides. The netminders stood on their heads, keeping the scores close and the tension high.
Many players on the championship squad hail from Selkirk and River East, and several also suited up for the Selkirk Royals high school team, which reached the Winnipeg Women’s High School Hockey League final this season.
Among them were Mikayla Clarkson, Serena Reeb, Jayme Edmonds, Elara Nazimek, Airiana Kordalchuk and Madigan Czarnecki.
The U18 AA teams are part of Hockey Winnipeg and include the Northeast Predators, Eastman Sharks, Stonewall Blues, Rangers and Titans.
With three straight titles and three straight five-game finals, the Predators have firmly established themselves as a dynasty in Manitoba girls hockey.
Girls hockey is alive and well in Selkirk.
