Mavericks U13A Team One Handily Wins Series Opener
Story and Photos by Robert Thomas
Lead by Finnley Faris's first period natural hat trick the Moose Jaw U13A Carpet One Mavericks Team 1 easily defeated White City's Prairie Storm in second round Saskatchewan Female Hockey League (SFHL) playoff action.
Playing in front of about 70 fans the Mavericks recorded a 10 - 2 Sunday evening victory.
The top seeded Mavericks U13A Team 1 - who play in the SFHL's Eastern division had just come off a round one playoff series sweep of the Lumsden Bethune Yellow Lynx.
FIRST PERIOD
The Mavericks got on the scoreboard at the 16:39 mark when Kenzie Hazell jammed away at the puck managing to slide it past a sprawled Prairie Storm goaltender Bailey Book.
Assists on the goal went to Pyper Stewart and Maria Umana.
MAVERICKS KENZIE HAZELL BANGS AWAY AT THE PUCK IN CLOSE TO SCORE MOOSE JAW'S FIRST GOAL - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
The next Mavericks goal would be the start of Faris's natural hat truck.
At 13:59 Faris looped in close from the right side to the lefy side of the net where she would score an unassisted marker.
Faris would score again at 11:08 where she hit the cross bar and the puck went behind Book.
The goal was assisted by Kaylee Duzan.
MAVERICKS FINNLEy faris SHOOTS JUST WIDE ON PRAIRIE STORM NETMINDER BAILEY BOOK - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
Despite the majority of play being in Prairie Storm's end of ice for a major portion of the first period Mavericks netminder Charlotte McKee was sharp when called upon.
ALTHOUGH NOT FACING MANY SHOTS IN THE FIRST PERIOD MAVERICKS GOALIE CHARLOTTE MCKEE MADE THREE KEY SAVES TO KEEP PRAIRIE STORM OFF OF THE SCOREBOARD - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
McKee made three big saves in the period.
The biggest one saw McKee catch the puck when a Prairie Storm player shot a 15 foot hard wrist hand to what appeared to be an empty side of the net.
The period ended with the Mavericks up 4 - 0.
SECOND PERIOD
Prairie Storm would get on the scoreboard at the 14:25 mark with a powerplay goal by Paige Kilback assisted by Emily Wetsch.
Kilback would pick up a rebound from a butterflied McKee flicking it into the Mavericks net.
PRAIRIE STORM'S PAIGE KILBACK JUMPS ON A BIG REBOUND ON A BUTTERFLIED CHARLOTTE MCKEE. KILBACK WOULD JAM IT PAST MCKEE TO SCORE - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
On the ensuing center ice face off the Mavericks’ Umana would break in and score unassisted at 14:06.
Prairie Storm would pressure the Mavericks during the second period.
During one play McKee made a stop only to lose her stick behind the net.
Play continued and White City failed to score with McKee playing without a stick.
MAVERICKS SOPHIE PAGE RETRIEVED AND RETURNED CHARLOTTE MCKEE'S STICK WHILE PRAIRIE STORM WAS THREATENING TO SCORE - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
Moose Jaw would record a powerplay marker of their own at 7:53.
Faris scored top shelf on a wrist hand from in front of Book. The assist went to Duzan.
Despite allowing six goals Book made some great saves to keep her team in the hunt for the win.
The second period ended Mavericks 6 and Prairie Storm 1.
MAVERICKS MARIA UMANA (RIGHT) FALLS TO THE ICE BACKCHECKING AHAINST PRAIRIE STORM'S SOPHIA PAGE - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
THIRD PERIOD
The Mavericks Umana scored their seventh goal at 17:10.
Assists went to Hazell and Stewart.
DESPITE BEING TRIPPED MAVERICKS MARIA UMANA ATTEMPTS TO CENTER THE PUCK. PRAIRIE STORM WAS PENALIZED ON THE PLAY RESULTING IN THE EIGHTH GOAL - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
The Mavericks would score their eighth goal after a bevy of shots on Book.
Quinn Kaip would score at 13:32 when Prairie Storm had two players sitting in the penalty box.
MAVERICKS LINDSEY LAKER ATTEMPTS TO SHOVEL THE PUCK PAST PRAIRIE STORM NETMINDER BAILEY BOOK - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
The Mavericks ninth goal would be a powerplay goal.
With Prairie Storm failing to kill one of the two penalties the Lyndsey Laker scored a powerplay goal at 13:16.
Finnley Faris was credited with an assist.
MAVERICKS KENZIE HAZELL (LEFT) BATTLES PRAIRIE STORM'S EMILY WESCH MID ICE - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
Prairie Storm's bench would erupt at 4:40 as Brynn Rajczakowski would take advantage of a long rebound on a Sydney Olson shot.
The Mavericks tenth and final goal came at 2:47 when Kinley Bender skated in on a rebound putting it past Book.
Assists went to Laker and Umana.
The final score Mavericks 10 and Prairie Storm 2.
MAVERICKS QUINN KAIP BREAKS AWAY FROM TWO PRAIRIE STORM PLAYERS IN THE THIRD PERIOD - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO
Game Two in the best of three series is scheduled for 7:45 pm Friday March 10th at White City's Communiskate.
Game Three, if necessary, is 2:15 pm at the Red Knight Arena at 15 Wing.
The Moose Jaw U13A Carpet One Mavericks Team 2, who play in the SFHL's Western division are also playing in the second round of playoffs.
The Mavericks U13 A Team 2 advanced to face the Swift Current Colts Black team.
The Mavericks Two team advanced after defeating the North Battleford Sharks in two straight games.
Game One of the second round series kicks off this Thursday March 9th at 5:30 pm.
Game Two goes Saturday March 11th at 6 pm at the Bert Hunt.
Game Three, if necessary, goes Sunday March 12th at 11:45 am at the Kinsmen Arena.