The female U18 Pembina Valley Hawks closed out their regular season schedule last week with mixed results.
The final week began Feb. 9 with a 5-1 loss to the first-place Eastman Selects, but Pembina Valley then went out on a winning note Friday with a 7-3 win over the last-place Interlake Lightning.
The Hawks faced a tough task against the high-powered and talented Eastman team, which vastly outshot Pembina Valley 53-17, including 24 shots in the second period alone.
Madison Froese of course was under fire in the Hawks’ goal but did well to make 48 saves, while Casey O’Brien’s 14th goal of the season with 6:35 remaining in the third period was the lone Pembina Valley goal.
The Hawks held period leads of 3-1 and 4-2 against Interlake and then put it away with three more in the final frame while outshooting the Lightning 32-30 overall.
O’Brien led the way for the Hawks with four goals, which put her at 18 in total for the regular season. Also scoring were Sophia Cox, Claire Boyd, and Leah Klassen. The power play contributed three goals, including two by O’Brien. Froese got the win in net with 29 saves.
With that, Pembina Valley ended the season in sixth place at 9-18-0-1 for 19 points, which was just two up on Central Plains and nine behind Yellowhead.
It sets up a quarter-final playoff series for the Hawks with the third-place Westman Wildcats. Pembina Valley had close games with Westman during the regular season but ended up losing three of the four.
Game one was set for this Wednesday in Hartney followed by game two Friday in Morden and then game three Sunday back in Hartney.
If the series is extended, game four will be Feb. 26 in Morden and game five Feb. 28 in Hartney.
