The Swift Current Innovation Federal Credit Union Wildcats opened the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League playoffs with a decisive win on home ice. The second seeded Wildcats shutout the seventh seeded Notre Dame Hounds 8-0 on Saturday to open the best-of-three series.
The Wildcats put the game away in the first period as they held a 22-1 advantage on the shot clock and emerged with a 3-0 lead. They finished three-for-eight on the power play and killed off all six Notre Dame man-advantages.
Ashley Vezeau made 11 saves in the shutout. Annie Hodges turned aside 57 shots in a losing cause for the Hounds.
Iralyn Calkins and Charlize Hillmer both registered one goal and two assists. Piper Arntsen, Raela Packet, and Rowyn Baptist each added a goal and an assist. Laynee Rondeau, Jalaa Moore Jagow, and Hayden Hilbig also scored. Ella Schenher registered two assists, while Emily McCleary and Kapri Darby added singles.
Game two is set for Monday in Wilcox. Visit swbooster.com for full results.
Three Wildcats players won league awards this season, led by defenseman Charlize Hillmer. The second-year Wildcats’ blueliner won the Hayley Wickenheiser Most Valuable Player Award, the Colleen Sostorics Top Defenseman Award, and was named a First-Team All-Star. The Assiniboia product registered 11 goals and 18 assists in 29 games this season. She is the first Wildcats player to win league MVP since Taylor Lind in 2018-19.
Wildcats’ captain Raela Packet was named the Fiona Smith Most Sportsmanlike Player after being whistled for only four penalty minutes in 29 games.
Wildcats’ rookie forward Laynee Rondeau was named to the Second All-Star Team after she finished tied for second in league scoring with 37 points in 30 games.
