Rebels’ Focht a great made in Regina story

Lauren Focht is the Rebels all-time leading scorer.

    Lauren Focht keeps piling up the highlights and milestones with her elite hometown team.

    On Tuesday at Crescent Point Place in Weyburn, Focht became the all-time leading scorer in regular season for her Regina Rebels female midget AAA hockey team. The skilled forward, who turned 18-years-old in January, picked up a goal and an assist as the Rebels thumped the host Richardson Pioneer Gold Wings 8-2 in a Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League regular season game.

    The effort gave Focht 66 goals and 56 assists for 122 points in 102 regular season games. That put Focht one point ahead of Emma Waldenberger for top spot on the Rebels all-time regular season scoring list.

    Waldenberger collected 60 goals and 61 assists for 121 points playing in 109 career regular season games for the Rebels from 2010 to 2014.

    Besides being the Rebels all-time leader in career points, Focht, who stands 5-foot-3, is also the Rebels leader in all-time career goals. Her 66 tallies ranks eighth on the SFMAAAHL all-time career regular season goals list.

Lauren Focht is the Rebels all-time leader in career goals.

    Focht’s 122 career points are good for 11^th place on the SFMAAAHL’s all-time career regular season points list. Over the Rebels final three games, she has a chance to move past former Saskatoon Stars captain Lauren Zary for 10^th on the SFMAAAHL’s all-time scoring list.

    Zary piled up 44 goals and 82 assists for 126 points playing 103 regular season games with the Stars from 2008 to 2012.

    Focht hasn’t just burst on the scene with the Rebels. She has produced consistent offensive numbers with the team over her four seasons never falling below 23 points in any campaign.

    This season, Focht currently sits second in team scoring with 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points. Her assist total is a career high showing her playmaking abilities can be just as good as her scoring touch around the net.

    Focht is a Rebels co-captain along with gifted offensive defender Sydney Pedersen.

Actually, Focht doesn’t actively pay attention to her personal statistics and is more focused on team success. You get the feeling she relishes the fact she gets to be one of the sparkplugs that makes the deep Rebels machine go.

    Last season, the Rebels showed they were ready to play with Canada’s best in the female midget AAA hockey ranks. 

Lauren Focht been one of the Rebels most consistent players.

    They finished second in the SFMAAAHL with a 17-7-4 record, advanced to the league championship series and fell to a powerhouse Stars club that was loaded with superstar veterans.

    The Rebels gave the Stars their only regular season loss in the 2018-19 campaign.

    With another year of experience under their collective belts, the Rebels have already locked up first place in the SFMAAAHL with an impressive 26-1-1 record and they are Canada’s top rated female midget AAA hockey team according to the My Hockey Rankings site. The Rebels last topped the SFMAAAHL standings in the 2013-14 campaign.
    The current Rebels have a drive and self-belief that is powerful and beyond the teenage years of the players.

    In Tuesday’s win over the Gold Wings, the Rebels offensive output came from a number of sources. Pedersen and Neena Brick both had two goals and an assist. Kaylee Dyer had a goal and an assist, while Megan Hayhurst and Shaelyn Myers had singles.

    Alexis Petford had a pair of assists, while Penny Bellefontaine and Jasmine Lamotte had single assists.

    Jayden Baker and Lauren Demmans both had a goal and an assist for the Gold Wings.

Lauren Focht (#22) doesn’t actively follow her personal statistics.

    Payton Schlamp made 16 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Rebels. Veteran Chloe Burt turned away 49 shots to take the setback in net for the Gold Wings, who fell to 5-22-2.

    The Rebels return to action this coming Thursday, when they host the Battlefords Sharks at 8 p.m. at the Co-operators Centre.

    Brick, who has been Focht’s linemate for much of the current campaign, leads the SFMAAAHL in scoring with 28 goals and 27 assists for 55 points skating in her sophomore 16-year-old campaign.

    With all that noted, Focht has produced a great made in Regina story. Her family is talented in the game too, as older brother Carson has 31 goals and 20 assists in 55 regular season games with the Calgary Hitmen heading into WHL action on Friday.

    It is almost too bad Carson, who turned 20-years-old in February, didn’t play for the WHL’s Regina Pats.

    When the Rebels season wraps up, Lauren Focht will continue her hometown journey in hockey joining the University of Regina Cougars women’s hockey teams in the U Sports ranks. Focht’s addition is a huge addition for the Cougars.

Many more special moments could awaiting Lauren Focht and the Rebels.

    While it is a big jump to play in the U Sports ranks and success is in no way guaranteed, you have to love that the chance is there for the hometown product to do big things with her hometown university team.

    Until then, Focht and the Rebels are well positioned to make a memorable post-season. With the WHL’s Pats still going through a massive rebuild, Focht and her teammates can capture the imagination of the sports scene in “the Queen City” along with the Regina Pat Canadians, who topped the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League standings.

    Some more special hockey memories are just waiting to be made in the Saskatchewan capital.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Rebels lock up second in SFMAAAHL in fierce series split with Bears in P.A.

P.A. captain Soyko heats up as regular season draws to close

The Rebels locked up second place in the SFMAAAHL.

    Regina Rebels locked up second place, while Prince Albert Northern Bears star captain Abby Soyko found a way to steal the show.

    The two powerhouse clubs from the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League engaged in and split a fierce two-game battle at the Kinsman Arena in Prince Albert on the weekend.

    On Friday night, the Bears jumped out to a 2-1 lead, but three straight second period goals by the Rebels swung the momentum of that contest. Regina took 4-2 lead thanks to that surge and ultimately posted a 4-3 victory.

    Hanna Bailey, Samantha Sichkaruk, Sydney Pedersen and Jordan Fry netted singles for the Rebels. Rhea Peterson, Brooklyn Anderson and Kate Ball replied with singles for the Bears. Soyko assisted on the Bears final two goals of the contest.

    Chantel Weller made 24 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Rebels. Scout Anderson turned away 40 shots to take the setback in goal for the Bears.

    That win by the Rebels allowed them to lock up second place in the SFMAAAHL.

Samantha Sichkaruk helped the Rebels lock up second place.

    On Saturday, Lauren Focht scored 52 seconds into the game to give the Rebels an early 1-0 lead.

Soyko responded for the Bears at the 6:09 mark of the first period to even things up at 1-1.

Pedersen and Kaylee Dyer proceeded to score for the Rebels before the opening frame ended to give Regina a 3-1 advantage.

    From there, the Bears started a progressive comeback. Soyko netted the only goal of the second to cut the Rebels lead to 3-2.

    With 59 seconds remaining in the third, Miranda Heidt recorded the equalizer to even things up at 3-3 and force overtime.

    In overtime, Soyko completed the hat trick to deliver the Bears to a 4-3 victory.

    Lexi Beuker turned away 36 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Bears. Payton Schlamp turned away 46 shots to take the setback in goal for the Rebels.

    On the weekend, the Bears wore special tribute jerseys for the Humboldt Broncos junior A team to pay respect for all those effected by the team’s bus crash on April 6, 2018. The jerseys will be auctioned off at the Bears first home playoff game in March in support of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Mental Assistance Fund.

Abby Soyko was on fire for the Bears on the weekend.

    Soyko had a number of ties with those involved in the Broncos bus crash.

    With the results in those two games, the Rebels saw their record move to 17-6-4. They close the SFMAAAHL regular season by hosting the Notre Dame Hounds on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Co-operators Centre in Regina.

    The Bears saw their regular season come to a close with their weekend encounters with the Rebels. Prince Albert finishes the regular season with a 17-9-2 record.

    Soyko, who is playing her final season of midget AAA eligibility, posted 65 goals and 63 assists for 128 points in 136 regular season games played with the Bears over five seasons. The 17-year-old captain is the Bears all-time leader in regular season goals and points and shares the team career regular season assists record with former Bears captain Kaitlin Willoughby.
    Soyko is the ninth all-time leading scorer in the history of the SFMAAAHL in regular season play.

    Willoughby, who currently plays professionally with the Calgary Inferno of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, recorded 34 goals and 63 assists for 97 points playing in 96 career regular season games with the Bears from 2008 to 2013.
    The Rebels will face the Melville Prairie Fire in a best-of-five first round playoff series. The Bears will take on the Notre Dame Hounds in a best-of-five first round series. The SFMAAAHL playoffs are expected to start around March 7.

Captain Abby Soyko completed a three-goal night with an overtime winner Saturday as the Prince Albert Northern Bears split a weekend series with the Regina Rebels.

Now the Bears have to wait to find out their playoff opponent. https://t.co/HzLGQdisFG pic.twitter.com/yG9XqlxMYg

— Lucas Punkari (@lpunkari) February 17, 2019

Stars roll past Hounds

Captain Grace Shirley had a four-goal night for the Stars on Sunday.

    Saskatoon Stars are motoring into the SFMAAAHL playoffs riding a six-game winning streak.

Over the weekend, the Stars swept away the Notre Dame Hounds in a two game series at the Duncan McNeill Arena in Wilcox, Sask., to improve their winning streak to six games.

    On Saturday, the Stars blanked the Hounds 4-0 scoring all of their goals in the second period.

    Joelle Fiala scored twice for the Stars, while Alison Olorenshaw and Makena Kushniruk had singles. Arden Kliewer turned away 12 shots to pick up her seventh shutout win of the season in goal for the Stars.

    Kaitlyn Ross turned away 31 shots to take the setback in goal for the Hounds.

On Sunday, Stars star captain Grace Shirley scored four goals to power her side to a 6-0 victory. Chase Sperling and Anna Leschyshyn netted singles for the Stars.

    Rookie Kaitlyn Cadrain stopped 13 shots to pick up her third career SFMAAAHL shutout in goal for the Stars. Rayanne Mckenzie turned away 19 shots to take the setback in goal for the Hounds.

    The Stars top forwards in Shirley, Leschyshyn and Fiala are all playing out their final seasons of midget AAA eligibility.

    Shirley, who is the Stars captain, finishes up as the third all-time leading scorer in the history of the SFMAAAHL in regular season play. She collected 97 goals and 69 assists for 166 points in 107 regular season games. She is the Stars all-time leader in career regular season goals and points.

    Leschyshyn concludes regular season play as the fifth all-time leading scorer in the history of the SFMAAAHL. She recorded 72 goals and 80 assists for 152 points in 115 regular season games. Leschyshyn is just the fifth player in the history of the SFMAAAHL to record 80 or more career regular season assists.

Joelle Fiala became the Stars leader in career regular season assists.

    Fiala closes regular season play as the eighth all-time leading scorer in the history of the SFMAAAHL. She posted 47 goals and 83 assists for 130 points in 112 regular season games. She recorded her final career regular season assist on Sunday to pass former team captain Lauren Zary as the Stars all-time leader in that category.

    Zary collected 44 goals and 82 assists for 126 points playing 103 regular season games with the Stars from 2008 to 2012. She is the 10^th all-time leading scorer in the history of the SFMAAAHL in regular season play and moved on to play post-secondary hockey first with the Brown University Bears in the National Collegiate Athletic Association ranks and then the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the U Sports ranks.

    Fiala sits in a tie with Chelsea Perepeluk for the second and third spots in the SFMAAAHL career regular season assists list. Perepeluk, who is the SFMAAAHL’s 14^th all-time leading scorer in regular season points, recorded 36 goals and 83 assists in 108 regular season games played with the Regina Rebels from 2010 to 2015.

    The Stars already had first place in the SFMAAAHL locked up heading into the weekend, and they will have a bye to a best-of-five league semifinal series in the post-season. Saskatoon posted its best regular season record ever at 27-1 beating out its previous best mark of 25-2-1 from the 2016-17 campaign.
    The Stars collected a new team record 78 points in the standings coming off 24 regulation wins and three extra time victories. Their previous record of 76 points came back in 2016-17 coming from 25 regulation wins and one extra time setback.

    The Hounds are cemented to finish fifth in the SFMAAAHL with an 11-13-3 record. They close the SFMAAAHL regular season by traveling to Regina to face the Rebels on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Co-operators Centre.

    Notre Dame will face the Prince Albert Northern Bears in a best-of-five first round playoff series. The SFMAAAHL playoffs are expected to start around March 7.

Wildcats vault into third with sweep of Gold Wings

Taylor Lind won her second SFMAAAHL scoring title this season.

    Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats jumped into a third place finish in the SFMAAAHL standings with a sweep of the Weyburn Richardson Pioneer Gold Wings on the weekend.

    On Saturday at the Fairview Arena in Swift Current, the Wildcats downed the Gold Wings 6-1. Star captain Taylor Lind and Sara Kendall scored twice for the Wildcats, while Brooklyn Rublee and Tobi Fontaine had singles.

    Dakota Bowler replied with a single for the Gold Wings.

    Harper Davey turned away 21 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Wildcats. Daneka Dickson turned away 37 shots to take the setback in goal for the Gold Wings.

    On Sunday at the Fairview Arena, Lind powered the Wildcats with a hat trick and an assist to a 6-0 victory.

    Ashlee Wolfe, Sara Kendall and Carissa Hogan had singles for the Wildcats. Davey stopped all 20 shots she faced to pick up her first shutout win of the season.

    Amara Lewendon turned away 42 shots to take the setback in goal for the Gold Wings. Weyburn missed the playoffs finishing with a 1-26-1 record.

    Lind finished her regular season career as the second all-time leading scorer in the history of the SFMAAAHL in regular season play. She piled up 93 goals and 77 assists for 170 points in 83 regular season games. The Shaunavon, Sask., product is the Wildcats all-time leader in career regular season goals, assists and points.

Sara Kendall had three goals on the weekend for the Wildcats.

    For the second time in three seasons, Lind won the SFMAAAHL scoring title posting 29 goals and 31 assists for 60 points this season. Her assist and point totals are career highs.

    Next season, Lind is slated to the join the Lindenwood University Lions women’s hockey team in St. Charles, Missouri, in the NCAA ranks. She has one season of midget AAA eligibility remaining but is set to graduate high school a year early.

    The Wildcats are 11-1 since returning to action after the Christmas break to vault to a third place finish in the SFMAAAHL standings with a 17-10-1 record to just edge out the Prince Albert Northern Bears, who were 17-9-2.

    Swift Current recorded 50 points in the standings due to winning 15 games in regulation, winning twice in extra time and posting one extra time loss. The Bears posted 49 points in the standings coming off 13 regulation wins, four extra time wins and two extra time setbacks.

    The Wildcats will face the Battlefords Sharks in a best-of-five first round series. The SFMAAAHL playoffs are expected to start around March 7.

Sharks, Prairie Fire close with hard-fought split

Madison Sansom scored twice for the Sharks on Saturday.

    The Battlefords Sharks and the Melville Prairie Fire conclude their respective SFMAAAHL regular seasons with a head-to-head split in a two game series.

    On Saturday at the Horizon Credit Union Centre in Melville, the Sharks led 1-0 after the first period and extended their edge to 3-0 early in the third. The Prairie Fire battled back cutting the Sharks lead to 3-2, but Battlefords sealed with win with an empty-net goal with under 10 seconds to play in the third.

    Brooklyn Rowley and Madison Sansom each scored twice for the Sharks. Megan Hayhurst and Ava Metzger replied with singles for the Prairie Fire.

    Haylie Biever turned away 30 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Sharks. Cheyenne Jamieson turned away 21 of 24 shots taking the setback in goal for the Prairie Fire.

    The two side played a barnburner at the Horizon Credit Union Centre on Sunday in Melville. The two side were locked in a 1-1 tie exiting the first period.

    The Sharks took a 2-1 lead early in the second period, but the Prairie Fire exploded for three straight goals to take a 4-2 edge into the second intermission. Melville held on for a 5-4 victory.

    Jordyn Blais scored twice for the Sharks, while Kiana McNinch and Sydney Rowley had singles. Metzger scored twice and had an assist for the Prairie Fire, while Megan Hayhurst, Jordyn Bear and Heather Fiske had singles.

Allison Hayhurst played her 139th regular season game on Sunday.

    Biever turned away 25 shots to take the setback in goal for the Sharks. Jamieson turned away 14-of-16 shots starting and picking up the win in goal for the Prairie Fire. Haley Schrader played the final 22 minutes of Sunday’s contest turning away 17-of-19 shots in relief.

    The Sharks finished sixth in the SFMAAAHL standings with an 11-13-4 record. They were just edged out by the Notre Dame Hounds (11-13-3) for fifth place.

    The Hounds have 35 points in the standings coming off 10 regulation wins, one extra time win and three extra time setbacks. The Sharks finished with 33 standings points coming off seven regulation wins, four extra time wins and four extra time setbacks.
    Battlefords win and standings point totals were team records. The Sharks previous record for wins in one regular season was 10 posted in the SFMAAAHL’s second season in 2007-08, when they posted 10 wins, 16 losses and two ties.
    Battlefords previous high for standings points was 26 posted in 2014-15 coming from a 9-18-1 record, where the team won seven times in regulation, twice in extra time and had one extra time setback.

    The Prairie Fire were seventh overall in the SFMAAAHL with a 10-16-2 mark.

    Prairie Fire defender Allison Hayhurst became the third person in the history of the SFMAAAHL to play in 139 career regular season games. Hayhurst, who turned 18-years-old earlier this month, has 22 goals and 47 assists for 69 points in her 139 career regular season games.

    She had assists in each of the Prairie Fire’s last two games.

    The Sharks will face the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats in a best-of-five first round series. The Prairie Fire will meet the Regina Rebels in a best-of-five first round series. The SFMAAAHL playoffs are expected to start around March 7.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Messier lifts Stars past Hounds

Ashley Messier reacts to her winning goal for the Stars.

    In a tight and physical game, Ashley Messier delivered the biggest blow with a rocket shot to deliver the Saskatoon Stars another victory.

    Facing the Notre Dame Hounds in a Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League regular season game at Merlis Belsher Place, the Stars entered the third period locked in a 0-0 tie.

    With nine minutes to play in the third period, Messier, who is skilled offensive defender, took a pass from defensive partner Emily Holmes, broke down the right wing of the Notre Dame zone and roofed home a rocket shot past Hounds star netminder Kaitlyn Ross. The 16-year-old’s tally was the only marker of the contest as the Stars held on for a 1-0 victory.

    “I just got the pass from Emily (Holmes) and went high,” said Messier. “I know that her glove is really good, so I just tried to stay away from that.”

    While Saturday’s encounter marked the first time the Stars and Hounds met in the regular season, they faced each other in the final of the Mandi Schwartz Memorial Tournament last Dec. 9. 

The Stars celebrate Ashley Messier’s winning goal on Saturday.

    As Notre Dame hosted that prestigious event, the Hounds were the host squad.

    The Stars prevailed in that contest 3-1, and Messier said the way Saturday’s game played out felt familiar to that tournament championship encounter.

    “It was pretty similar to our one at Mandi,” said Messier. “I would say they are always low scoring and hard fought games and that was just another one today.”

    Ross was outstanding in the Hounds net turning away 28 shots to take the setback in goal.

    Arden Kliewer turned away all 19 shots she faced picking up her sixth shutout win of the season in goal for the Stars. She has nine shutouts in her SFMAAAHL career.

Ashley Messier has 30 points this season for the Stars.

    Messier said the Stars were trying to do their best to screen Ross and make her move side to side to produce better scoring chances.

    “(We have to) make sure we do get the shots through, because they are good at blocking up top as well,” said Messier. “(We have to) make sure we have people at the net to get it in, because they are not always going to be really nice goals against a goalie like this.”

    Before Messier scored, the Stars looked like they were going to break the scoreless tie, while working on the power play. Stars captain Grace Shirley got the puck at the right side of the Notre Dame net, and she rang a backhand off the post.

    Shortly after Shirley’s chance with the game still tied at 0-0, the Hounds had a chance to score during a mad scramble in front of the Stars net, but Notre Dame couldn’t get the puck into the Saskatoon goal.

Kaitlyn Ross made 28 saves in goal for the Hounds.

    The Hounds checked the Stars incredibly tight, and Messier said Notre Dame clogged things up, when the Saskatoon skaters tried to bring the puck up through centre ice.

    “I would say that it is a more physical game, and the refs were letting a lot go, which was fine,” said Messier. “They (the Hounds) are patient and they trap.

    “They do set up a trap, so it is kind of hard to get around on, but we got there today.”

    Individually, Messier is having her best season. The 16-year-old third-year veteran has career highs in goals (five), assists (25) and points (30). She stayed modest taking her career highs in stride.

    “It is good,” said Messier. “It is nice to know that you are improving or doing better.

Captain Grace Shirley fires a shot on goal for the Stars.

    “It is not the most important thing, but it is nice.”

    With the win, the Stars improved to 24-1. They came into Saturday’s game having already locked up first place in the SFMAAAHL.

    The Hounds saw their five game winning streak come to an end as they fell to 11-10-3.

    The two sides go at it again on Sunday at 2:15 at Merlis Belsher Place.

    Following that game, the Stars close their regular season by traveling to Wilcox to play the Hound in two respective games on Feb. 16 and 17.

    Messier said playing the Hounds four straight times will help the Stars gear up for the post-season.

    “I’m assuming there will be a lot more games like this,” said Messier. “It is going to be hard fought right to the very end, which is going to be good for us going into playoffs.”

Bears’ Soyko moves to 10^th on SFMAAAHL career scoring list

Abby Soyko has 123 career regular season points.

    Prince Albert Northern Bears captain Abby Soyko hit a big personal milestone on Saturday.

    The skilled 17-year-old forward moved alone into 10^th place on the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League’s career regular season scoring list.

    Soyko hit the milestone teaming up with sister Allie Soyko to set up Kate Ball for the Bears first goal in a 11-0 victory over the Weyburn Richardson Pioneer Gold Wings at Crescent Point Place in Weyburn.

    Abby Sokyo also picked up a goal for a two-point night in the win. Over five seasons, Soyko has appeared in 134 regular season games recording 62 goals and 61 assists for 123 career points.

    She is two points clear of Taylor Woods and Emma Waldenberger, who sit tied for 11^th and 12^th spot on the all-time regular season scoring list.

    Woods appeared in 84 regular season games for the Notre Dame Hounds from 2008 to 2011 recording 55 goals and 66 assists for her 121 points. Waldenberger played 109 regular season games for the Regina Rebels from 2010 to 2011 posting 60 goals and 61 assists for her 121 points.
    Soyko is the Bears all-time leader in career goals and points.

Scout Anderson picked up her first career shutout on Saturday.

    In Saturday’s clash between the Bears and Gold Wings, 17-year-old forward Miranda Heidt had a pair of goals and five assists for the Bears. Jaydn Kushniruk had a pair of goals and two assists for Prince Albert, while Jasper Desmarais had a goal and three assists for the Bears.

    Ball finished with a pair of goals and an assist. McKenzie Mayo, Paige Dawson and Haley Kicia rounded out the Bears scoring with singles.

    Scout Anderson, who is a 14-year-old rookie, made 24 saves to earn her first career SFMAAAHL regular season shutout for the Bears (16-8-2). Daneka Dawson turned away 39 shots to take the setback in goal for Gold Wings (1-24-1).

    The Bears return to action on Friday, when they host the Regina Rebels at 7 p.m. at the Kinsmen Arena in Prince Albert.

    Weyburn travels to Swift Current this coming Saturday to face the Diamond Energy Wildcats at 7:45 p.m. at the Fairview Arena.

Prairie Fire upset Wildcats 5-2

Allison Hayhurst had a goal and an assist for the Prairie Fire.

    The Melville Prairie Fire brought an end to the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats eight-game winning streak with a big upset victory.

    On Saturday at the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex in Swift Current, the Prairie Fire built a 2-0 lead after the first period, a 3-0 advantage after the second period and expanded their edge to 5-0 in the third. The Wildcats responded with two goals to make the final 5-2 in Melville’s favour.

    Starla Mann scored twice for the Prairie Fire, while fifth-year veteran defender Allison Hayhurst had a goal and an assist.

    Megan Hayhurst and Heather Fiske rounded out Melville’s scoring with singles.

    Sara Kendall and Kenedee Klevgaard replied with singles for the Wildcats.

    Cheyenne Jamieson made 28 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Prairie Fire (9-15-1).

    Amaya Girauder started and took the setback in goal for the Wildcats (14-10-1) turning away 15-of-20 shots sent her way. Harper Davey turned away all five shots she faced in relief entering the contest in the third period after Melville’s fifth goal.

    Wildcats star captain Taylor Lind, who leads the SFMAAAHL scoring race and is the circuit’s second all-time leading scorer, was held without a point for just the second time this season.

    The Prairie Fire and Wildcats go at it again on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. at the Fairview Arena in Swift Current.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Rebels sweep Gold Wings, motor into heavyweight tilt with first place Stars

Rookie Neena Brick had eight points in the Rebels last two games.

    The Regina Rebels showed they won’t take anyone lightly.

    This past weekend, the Rebels continued to cement themselves in second place in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League standings by sweeping the rebuilding Weyburn Richardson Pioneer Gold Wings in a home-and-home series.

    On Saturday, the two clubs met at Crescent Point Place in Weyburn and the Rebels led 2-0 after the first period, 4-0 after the second frame and skated to a 9-0 victory.

    Forward Lauren Focht, who recently turned 17-years-old, led the way for the Rebels netting four goals and an assist. Neena Brick, who is a 15-year-old rookie forward, had a goal and three assists.

    White City product Tavia Terry had two goals and one assist. Sophomore 16-year-old forward Hanna Bailey, who has committed to join the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s hockey team for the 2020-21 season, recorded three assists for the Rebels.

Lauren Focht had four goals for the Rebels on Saturday.

    Shaelyn Myers and Alexis Petford each had singles for the Regina.

    Veteran 16-year-old netminder Chantel Weller made 18 saves to record her first career SFMAAAHL shutout for the Rebels.

    Amara Lewendo turned away 39 shots going the distance in net for the Gold Wings.

    The two sides went at it again on Sunday at the Co-operators Centre in Regina, and the Rebels jumped out to a 4-0 lead and cruised to a 10-3 victory to extend their winning streak to four games.

    Brick had a hat trick and an assist for the Rebels, while Bailey had a hat trick. Kaylee Dyer, who is a 15-year-old rookie forward, had a goal and two assists for Regina.

    Focht, Petford and Myers all had singles for the host side.

    Payton Mabee, Sydney Keddie and Reece Pittman replied with singles for Weyburn.

    Payton Schlamp, who is a rookie 15-year-old goalie, turned away 24 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Rebels.

    Lewendo stopped 44 shots going the distance in goal for the Gold Wings, who fell to 1-19-1.

Hanna Bailey has six points in the Rebels last two games.

    Having won four straight, the skilled and spunky Rebels improved to 16-4-2. They now travel to Saskatoon to face the first place and defending SFMAAAHL champion Stars (20-1) in a two-game series at Merlis Belsher Place.

    The two sides hit the ice this coming Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and go at it again on Sunday at 12:45 p.m.

    The Rebels and Stars split their first two regular season encounters in Regina. On Jan. 12, the Stars blanked the Rebels 3-0. On Jan. 13, the Rebels downed the Stars 3-2.

    The Gold Wings return to Weyburn and will host the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats this coming Saturday at 2 p.m. at Crescent Point Place.

Lind, Hogan on fire for Wildcats

Carissa Hogan scored the OT winner for the Wildcats on Sunday.

    Veteran forwards Taylor Lind and Carissa Hogan of the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats are too hot for the opposition to handle at the moment.

    Both played key roles in helping the Wildcats sweep the Battlefords Sharks in a series this past weekend, which allowed Swift Current to increase its winning streak to six games.

    On Saturday, the two SFMAAAHL squads faced each other at the Gull Lake Arena in Gull Lake as part of “Hockey Day in Saskatchewan” festivities.

    The Wildcats and Sharks were locked in a 2-2 tie in the second period before Swift Current exploded for four straight goals and ultimately claimed a 7-3 victory.

    Lind, who is the Wildcats captain, had two goals and two assists in the win, while Hogan had a pair of goals. Sara Kendall aided the Swift Current side with three assists.

    Brooklyn Rublee, Kate Wagner and Ashlee Wolfe had singles for the Wildcats.

    Logan Halter, Sydney Rowley and Jordyn Blais replied with singles for the Sharks. Captain Ali Aitken had a pair of assists for Battlefords.

    Amaya Giraudier stopped 34 shots to pick up with win in goal for the Wildcats.

    Yelena Zaleschuk turned away 36 shots to take the loss in goal for the Sharks.

    On Sunday at the Fairview Arena in Swift Current, the Wildcats fell behind 3-1 to the Sharks before rallying for a 4-3 overtime victory.

    Lind gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead, but the Sharks responded with three straight goals to take a 3-1 edge into the first intermission. Ensley Fendelet, Brooklyn Rowley and Kiana McNinch netted singles for the Sharks.

    Battlefords continued to hold its 3-1 lead heading into the third period.

Taylor Lind has 20 points in her last six games.

    Lind scored 55 seconds into the third to cut the Sharks edge to 3-2. Hogan picked up an assist on that tally.

    With 80 seconds remaining in the third, Lind teamed up with Baylee Kirwan to set up Kendall for the equalizer that created a 3-3 tie and forced overtime.

    Just 50 seconds into overtime, Hogan blasted home her fourth game-winning goal of the season to give the Wildcats the 4-3 win.

    Harper Davey stopped 27 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Wildcats (12-9-1).

    Zaleschuk turned away 33 shots to take the overtime setback in goal for the Sharks (10-11-4).

    Hogan has points in five straight games for the Wildcats recording five goals and three assists over that span of time.

    Lind has only been held off the scoresheet in one of the Wildcats 22 regular season games. During Swift Current’s current six game winning streak, Lind has hit another high gear posting 10 goals and 10 assists over that span of time.

    She leads the SFMAAAHL in scoring with 19 goals and 28 assists for 47 points.

    Thanks to the seven points she posted this past weekend against the Sharks, Lind vaulted past current Saskatoon Stars captain Grace Shirley into third on the SFMAAAHL’s all-time career regular season points list.

    In 77 career regular season games, Lind has 83 goals and 74 assists for 157 points.

    Shirley has 89 goals and 63 assists for 152 points in 100 career regular season games.

    Lind, who is the Wildcats all-time leading scorer, trails former Stars captain Mackenna Parker by one point for second in career SFMAAAHL regular season points.

    Parker recorded 82 goals and 76 assists for 158 points playing 104 career regular season games with the Stars from 2014-18. She currently plays for the Boston University Terriers women’s hockey team in the NCAA ranks.

    The Wildcats return to action this coming Saturday, when they travel to Weyburn to face the Richardson Pioneer Gold Wings at 2 p.m. at Crescent Point Place.

    The Sharks are off until Feb. 7, when they host the Stars at 7:30 p.m. at the Battleford Arena.

Hats fly for Bears forwards Kicia and Anderson

Haley Kicia had a hat trick on Saturday.

    Prince Albert Northern Bears forwards Haley Kicia and Brooklyn Anderson each celebrated hat trick nights this past weekend to help their team sweep the Melville Prairie Fire in a two-game series.

    On Saturday at the Shellbrook Skating Rink, Kicia, who is a 15-year-old sophomore, recorded the first three goal game of her SFMAAAHL career in regular season play to power the Bears past the Prairie Fire 5-2.

    Paris Oleksyn and Kate Ball each had a goal and an assist for Prince Albert.

    Jordyn Bear and Megan Hayhurst replied with singles for the Prairie Fire.

    Lexi Beuker stopped 20 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Bears.

    Cheyenne Jamieson turned away 36 shots to take the setback in goal for the Prairie Fire.

    On Sunday at the Kinsmen Arena in Prince Albert, Anderson scored three straight goals in the second period to power the Bears to a 4-1 victory over the Prairie Fire.

    Defender Jessie Herner, who committed to joining the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team in the U Sports ranks for the 2020-21 season on Monday, had the Bears other goal on Sunday, which tied things up at 1-1 at the 6:57 mark of the second period.

    Reauna Blight gave the Prairie Fire a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

Brooklyn Anderson had a hat trick on Sunday.

    Scout Anderson stopped 16 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Bears, who have won three straight to improve to 14-8-2.

    Jamieson turned away 31 shots to take the setback in goal for the Prairie Fire (8-13-1).

    The Bears are off until Feb. 8, when they travel to Weyburn to face the Richardson Pioneer Gold Wings at 7:30 p.m. at Crescent Point Place.

    The Prairie Fire travel to Wilcox this coming Saturday to take on the Notre Dame Hounds at 4 p.m. at the Duncan McNeill Arena.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Shirley passes Zary as Stars second all-time leading scorer

Grace Shirley has become the Stars second all-time leading scorer.

    Grace Shirley continued to cement her place as one of the greatest to ever play in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League last weekend.

    On Saturday at Crescent Point Place in Weyburn, Shirley picked up an assist on the Saskatoon Stars first goal of the game against the host Richardson Pioneer Gold Wings to become the second all-time leading scorer in the history of the Stars program. The Stars captain teamed with offensive defender Ashley Messier to set up Anna Leschyshyn for a goal just 19 seconds into the contest to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.

    The assist on Leschyshyn’s marker gave Shirley 127 regular season points in her SFMAAAHL career moving her one point past Lauren Zary for second on the Stars all-time scoring list.

    Zary, who is a former Stars captain, collected her 126 points off 44 goals and 82 assists playing 103 career regular season games for the Stars from 2008 to 2012. Following her time with the Stars, Zary played for the Brown University Bears women’s hockey team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association ranks and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team in U Sports. 

    Her 82 career assists is the Stars team record, and she is the sixth all-time leader in career regular season points in the SFMAAAHL.

    Against the Gold Wings on Saturday, Shirley, who stands 5-foot-8, piled up four goals and two assists as the Stars romped to a 14-1 victory. Thanks to that effort, Shirley, who has been a member of Canada’s national under-18 women’s hockey team, now has 77 goals and 55 assists for 132 points in 88 career SFMAAAHL regular season games.

    The 17-year-old centre vaulted to fourth on the SFMAAAHL’s career regular season points list passing Brienna Gillanders in the process. Gillanders, who is now the circuit’s fifth all-time leader in career regular season points, piled up 57 goals and 74 assists for 131 points playing 111 career regular season games from 2006 to 2010 with the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats and the Notre Dame Hounds.
    She moved on to play for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs women’s hockey team.

Grace Shirley has scored 77 career regular season goals for the Stars.

    Shirley, who has committed to play for the NCAA’s University of Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team next season, jumped into third on the SFMAAAHL’s career regular season goals list as well passing Alyssa Wiebe. Wiebe piled up 74 goals and 68 assists for 142 points in 55 regular season games with the Hounds playing in the SFMAAAHL’s first two regular seasons ever from 2006 to 2008. 

    Wiebe, who moved on the play for the now defunct University of North Dakota women’s hockey team in the NCAA, is the third all-time regular season leading scorer in the SFMAAAHL.

    Former Stars superstar Mackenna Parker graduated from the club at the end of last season finishing as the second all-time leading scorer in the history of the SFMAAAHL with 158 points coming off 82 goals and 76 assists in 104 career regular season games. A former Saskatoon team captain, Parker, who now plays for the Boston University Terriers women’s hockey team in the NCAA, is the Stars all-time leading scorer.

    Sophomore 15-year-old forward Calli Arnold had a big game for the Stars on Saturday piling up three goals and three assists, while Messier recorded a goal and five assists. Defender Emily Holmes had five assists for the Stars, and forward Kaitlin Jockims had two goals and two assists.

    Kaylee Baun, Joelle Fiala and Abby DeCorby round out the goal scoring for the Stars with singles.

Kaitlyn Cadrain turned away 15 shots to pick up the win in goal for Saskatoon.

    Kira Barham had the lone reply for the Gold Wings, and her tally tied things up at 1-1 for a time in the first period.

    Amara Lewendon turned away 46 shots to take the setback in goal for the Weyburn.

Sunday’s encounter by these same two clubs in Weyburn was a lot more hotly contested. With the two teams locked in a 2-2 tie, rookie 15-year-old defender Bridget Rezansoff scored short-handed at the 7:56 mark of the second period to give the Stars a 3-2 lead.

    Rezansoff’s tally, which was her first career SFMAAAHL regular season goal, would hold up as the game winner. Jockims scored a late third period goal for Saskatoon to secure a 4-2 victory.

Makena Kushniruk and Chace Sperling both had singles for the Stars.

Grace Shirley is the SFMAAAHL’s fourth all-time leading scorer.

    Veteran netminder Arden Kliewer turned away 17 shot to pick up the win for Saskatoon. The Stars improved to 6-0 with their two victories.

    Madison Lafoy and Mahteya Dumelie replied with singles for the Gold Wings.

    Daneka Dickson stopped 39 shots to take the setback in goal for Weyburn. The Gold Wings fell to 0-6 with their two losses.

    The Gold Wings held Shirley pointless in Sunday’s contest.

    The Stars return to action on Nov. 3, when they host their home opener at 7:30 p.m. against the Battlefords Sharks at Merlis Belsher Place. That contest will mark the Stars debut at the new rink on the University of Saskatchewan campus.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Soyko on brink of Bears all-time scoring record

Abby Soyko in action for the Bears last season.

    A seven point opening weekend has put Abby Soyko on the cusp of becoming the lone all-time leading scorer for the Prince Albert Northern Bears.

    Last weekend, the Bears opened their Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League regular season schedule sweeping the visiting Weyburn Richardson Pioneer Gold Wings in a pair of games at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert. In those two contests, Soyko recorded five goals and two assists.

    With those totals, Soyko now has collected 53 goals and 48 assists for 101 points in 110 career SFMAAAHL regular season games. Soyko, who was named the captain of her hometown Bears before the start of this season, has equaled Kelly Regnier for the most career points in the history of the Bears.

    Regnier, who is from St. Louis, Sask., recorded 50 goals and 51 assists for 101 points in 83 career regular season games played between 2010 and 2013. Her career total of 50 goals was the Bears team record until Soyko passed it with her performance in her last two outings.

    Besides equaling the Bears all-time record for career points, Soyko became just the 19^th player in the history of the SFMAAAHL to score 100 or more career points and the 16^th player in the history of the SFMAAAHL to score 50 or more career goals. The SFMAAAHL’s inaugural season was played in 2006-07.

    Before the current SFMAAAHL regular season opened last Saturday, former University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team star Kaitlin Willoughby was the second all-time leading scorer in the history of the Bears recording 34 goals and 63 assists for 97 points in 96 career regular season games played between 2008 and 2013. Willoughby’s assists total is the Bears all-time career record and is the eighth highest career total in the history of the SFMAAAHL.

Abby Soyko has 101 career SFMAAAHL regular season points.

    Soyko, who will turn 17-years-old in late October, started the campaign in impressive fashion scoring four goals in the Bears 6-0 victory over the Gold Wings on Saturday. Jasper Desmarais, who has committed to play for the Huskies in 2020, and Jessie Herner added singles for the Bears, while Lexi Beuker made 14 saves to collect the shutout win in goal.

    Daneka Dickson went the distance in goal for the Gold Wings turning away 35 shots in the setback.

    On Sunday, Soyko had a goal and two assists in the Bears 13-1 win over the Gold Wings. Kate Ball, who has committed to play for the Huskies next season, had a huge outing for the Bears piling up two goals and four assists.

    Sophomore forward Paris Oleksyn had a goal and three assists for the Bears, while Jadyn Kushniruk, who has committed to join the University of Regina Cougars women’s hockey team next season, had a hat trick.

    Haley Kicia, Tori MacDonald, Kailey Ledoux, Miranda Heidt, Sienna Danielson and Sophie Zuck all had singles to round out the scoring for the Bears. Scout Anderson, who is a 14-year-old underage player, made 25 stops to pick up her first win in her first career SFMAAAHL regular season game.

    Payton Mabee replied for the Gold Wings. Dickson turned away 19-of-25 shots starting in goal for Weyburn, and Amara Lewendon turned away 23-of-30 shots in relief.

    Soyko will try to move alone into top spot as the Bears all-time leading scorer when they return to action this coming Saturday, when they travel to Battleford to take on the Battlefords Sharks.

Stars’ Shirley nears top five in SFMAAAHL all-time scoring

Grace Shirley is the sixth all-time leading scorer in the SFMAAAHL.

    Grace Shirley is in striking distance of becoming the fifth all-time leading scorer in the SFMAAAHL.

    The Saskatoon Stars star forward picked up a pair of goals and three assists last weekend as the Stars swept the Diamond Energy Wildcats in a pair games in Swift Current. With her performance last weekend, Shirley now has 72 goals and 51 assists for 123 points in 84 career SFMAAAHL regular season games with the Stars. She is currently the sixth all-time leading scorer in the history of the SFMAAAHL.

    Shirley sits three points back of Lauren Zary for fifth on the SFMAAAHL’s all-time scoring list. Zary, who played for the Brown University Bears and U of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey teams, recorded 44 goals and 82 assists appearing in 103 career regular season games for the Stars from 2008 to 2012.

    Zary’s assist total is the career team record for the Stars, and she sits second in Stars team history for career points.

    On Saturday, Shirley scored once and set up Anna Leschyshyn’s game winner in the Stars 4-2 victory over the Wildcats. Abby DeCorby and Jayda Sachs had singles for Saskatoon. Arden Kliewer turned away 23 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Stars.

    Superstar forward Taylor Lind had a goal and an assist for the Wildcats. Maddy McCleary had the Wildcats other tally. Amaya Giraudier turned away 25 shots to take the setback in goal for the Wildcats.

    On Sunday, Shirley had a goal and two assists as the Stars slipped past the Wildcats 5-4. Sophomore forward Calli Arnold scored twice for the Stars including the game winner, which was set up by Shirley.

    Kaitlin Jockims and Joelle Fiala had singles for Saskatoon. Kliewer turned away 16 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Stars.

    Lind and sophomore forward Sara Kendall each had a goal and an assist for the Wildcats. Crystal Wale and Carissa Hogan netted singles for Swift Current.

    Harper Davey started in goal for the Wildcats turning away seven-of-10 shots. She was pulled after the Stars third goal. Giraudier stopped 14-of-16 shots going the rest of the way in relief and was credited with the setback in goal for Swift Current.

    The Stars return to action on Oct. 13, when they travel to Melville to take on the Prairie Fire.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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