Mavericks Steamroll Weyburn

Robert Thomas

Team work helped the Moose Jaw Pee Wee Mavericks defeat the Weyburn Youngfellow Gold Wings 7 – 1 in South Saskatchewan Female Hockey League action on Friday night.

Coach Jeff Polaschuk with Jayden Polaschuk

The Mavericks struck early at the 19:09 mark of the 1st period. What seemed to be innocent play near the Wings left blue line saw Jasmine Kohl jump into the play to prevent an off-side. Kohl then stick handled to the opposite corner, where she fought off the Wings’ defence and centred it out front on the wrap around to Sadie Hughes who notched the tally.

The Mavericks quickly followed up at 17:14 when Jesse Mielke passed to Kohl who wrist-handed the puck over top of Weyburn net minder J’Anne Colbow to go up 2 – 0.

Within a minute’s time the Wings were on the offensive, but a shot along the ice was stopped by Maverick’s goalie Shay Camphaug.

Moose Jaw would respond with their own offensive rally as Kohl managed to stick-handle her way behind Weyburn’s defence only to have Colbow make a great blocker save on a wrist hand shot.

At the 6:05 mark the Wings pressured the Mavericks on a break with a pass back to the point where a shot led to three dangerous in close rebounds handled by Camphaug. 

Moose Jaw failed to take a three goal advantage at the 1:35 mark as Kohl fed Mielke a great pass with Colbow beaten only to hear the shot ring off the post.

The 2nd period saw a great opportunity for the Mavericks to solidify control of the game, as Wings assistant captain Lola Brady was called for tripping at the 17:08 mark. Despite the penalty, the Wings managed to fight it off with the only dangerous shot coming about 10 seconds after the penalty expired, when Mielke made a 35 foot wrist shot with Colbow making a blocker save.

About a minute later, Kohl launched a long hard wrist shot Colbow made a glove save on.

Weyburn pressed at the 12:00 mark but were not able to get in close to the net to make any dangerous shots. 

At 11:05 Wings Delainey Knoll stepped in from the blue line and launched a dangerous shot from the top of the circle Camphaug stopped.

The Mavericks again pressed the Wings at the 3:20 mark as Tianna Wiebe set up Ashley Bricruz whose backhand shot along the ice was stopped by Colbow.

The all important third goal of the game came at the 1:56 mark as Bricruz got a breakaway after a pass by Callahan. Bricruz cut across in front of the net and backhanded a shot over Colbow.

Weyburn continued to pressure though and with 26 seconds left in the 2nd period Camphaug had to make a great save to retain her shutout hopes.

The 3rd period saw an offensive explosion from the Mavericks.

While on the power play, Mielke scored, at 17:10 assisted by Kohl and Jayden Polaschuk.

A fifth Maverick tally occurred after Sadie Hughes prevented the Wings Lola Brady from clearing the zone and Kohl stick-handled down the right-wing to pass it over to Mielke who found the net.

A sixth Maverick’s goal happened at 11:44 when Kohl passed to Mielke who, with a wrist-hand, notched a hat trick.

The Weyburn bench came alive with cheers at 9:24 when Campaugh found herself out of position and Beau Chisholm tapped it along the ice into the, wide open, side of the net, after a pass from Bailey Sorenson.

Moose Jaw scored a seventh goal, on the power play, at 3:18, as Mielke recorded her sixth point of the night, passing the puck to Kohl, who out stick-handled the Weyburn defender and scored.

“It was an awesome team effort,” said Mavericks head coach Jeff Polaschuk.

“They played smart and were looking for each other from the start and making smart plays,” Polaschuk said.

“The third period was really, really strong they were protecting the lead and finding each other on the ice to help control play,” he said.

Despite having the lead throughout the game Polaschuk said the third goal was the most important goal of the game.

“The next goal when we were up two to nothing was pretty important,” Polaschuk stated and who ever got would ultimately decide the game’s outcome.

The Mavericks played with a shorter bench than Weyburn and only had nine skaters versus the Wings’ 15 skaters.

“We only had nine skaters which is on par with most of the season…we might be short on numbers but not on effort. The girls work hard every game and our conditioning means we can compete with every team in the league.”

“It's fun for these girls they playing for each other. They are always congratulating each other. They are always congratulating each other. They really support each other a lot.”

Season wise against the physically larger Weyburn squad the Mavericks have done well this season but the Wings net minder Colbow had “stonewalled us before.”

Forward Jessie Mielke received the green cape or top player of the game for the pee wee Mavericks for a three goal and three assist effort. It gives her 40 points for the season. She is also the team’s leading point scorer. Plus this is the best performance point wise this season.

Upon being made aware she had received the honour Mielke said it felt “amazing.” This is her second time to receive the honour having received at the beginning of the season.

She commented about Kohl – two goals and three assists - who assisted on all of Mielke goals plus she notched up two of her assists for the night.

“She's (Jasmine Kohl) is a really good player,” she stated.

Asked why she called the night “amazing” Mielke stated “just because we played hard and really tried.”

The Pee Wee Mavericks finish off the regular season Sunday against Wood River in Lafleche. Their opponent in the playoffs is yet to be determined.